Time is length in self-similar logarithmic aging of physically cross-linked semiflexible polymer networks

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Ilg, Patrick, Luap, Clarisse, Kröger, Martin
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Ilg, Patrick
Luap, Clarisse
Kröger, Martin
author_facet Ilg, Patrick
Luap, Clarisse
Kröger, Martin
contents Physical aging in polymers is a fundamental yet poorly understood phenomenon, as diverse macromolecular systems exhibit remarkably similar slow dynamics. Through molecular dynamics simulations of physically crosslinked networks composed of semiflexible polymers, we identify a previously unexplored class of self-similar aging. The network undergoes ultra-slow coarsening characterized by a logarithmically growing mesh size, $L(t)\sim \ln t$, which governs the spatial organization, cohesive and bending energies, and the aging dynamics of the system. This single time-dependent length scale defines an internal clock, giving rise to spatio- temporal self-similarity of both structure and dynamics - offering a perspective on aging in soft and disordered materials.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_12989
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Time is length in self-similar logarithmic aging of physically cross-linked semiflexible polymer networks
Ilg, Patrick
Luap, Clarisse
Kröger, Martin
Soft Condensed Matter
Disordered Systems and Neural Networks
Materials Science
Physical aging in polymers is a fundamental yet poorly understood phenomenon, as diverse macromolecular systems exhibit remarkably similar slow dynamics. Through molecular dynamics simulations of physically crosslinked networks composed of semiflexible polymers, we identify a previously unexplored class of self-similar aging. The network undergoes ultra-slow coarsening characterized by a logarithmically growing mesh size, $L(t)\sim \ln t$, which governs the spatial organization, cohesive and bending energies, and the aging dynamics of the system. This single time-dependent length scale defines an internal clock, giving rise to spatio- temporal self-similarity of both structure and dynamics - offering a perspective on aging in soft and disordered materials.
title Time is length in self-similar logarithmic aging of physically cross-linked semiflexible polymer networks
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Disordered Systems and Neural Networks
Materials Science
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.12989