Dynamics of polymer chains in confined space. A computer simulation study

We studied the properties of simple models of star-branched polymer chains confined in a slit. The chains were constructed of united atoms (segments) and were restricted to vertices of a simple cubic lattice. We modeled good solvent conditions and thus the chains interacted with the excluded volume only. The macromolecules were put between two parallel and impenetrable surfaces and the surfaces were attractive for polymer segments. The properties of the model chains were determined by means of Monte Carlo simulations with a sampling algorithm based on chain's local changes of conformation. The differences and similarities in the structure for different adsorption regimes and the size of the slit were shown and discussed. The dependence of the short- and long-time scale dynamic behavior of chains on these factors was determined. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.