Temperature Dependence of Structural Properties and Chain Configurational Study: A Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Polyethylene Chains

Micro-structural evolution of polyethylene (PE) across the glass transition temperature (T-g) is investigated by full atom molecular dynamic (MD) simulation. The specific volume as a function of temperature for PE is obtained, through which the volumetric glass transition temperature was determined. The dihedral distribution of the overall bonds of the amorphous polyethylene chain system keeps consistent with the rotational isomeric state scheme. The dependence of isomer probability of skeletal bonds and average radius of gyration on temperature also can be used to estimate the glass temperature. The micro-structural information obtained from MD simulation should be helpful to understand glass transition mechanism of polymer system.