Rheological characterization in shear of a model dumbbell polymer concentrated solution

We investigate the linear and non-linear rheological behavior in shear of a concentrated solution of "dumbbell" polystyrene with long linear backbone and dense short brushes at both ends and compare it with corresponding linear polymers. This type of dumbbells has never been rheologically characterized before. In linear viscoelasticity, the dumbbell polymers show significant differences with conventional linear polymers. In particular, the reptation relaxation of the dumbbell is strongly slowed down. Furthermore, the addition of the side chains increases the friction so that the dumbbell lies above the η₀ vs. number of entanglements relation of linear samples. Transient shear rheology experiments on weakly entangled solutions show a retardation of the chain stretch relaxation of the dumbbell by a factor 2. 5 vs. a linear polymer with the same Rouse time. Additionally, a second peak in the transient viscosity is observed at high shear rates.