Polymer Entanglement

Dear Colleagues,

Polymeric materials, either synthetic or natural, are nowadays ubiquitous in our daily life thanks to the large variety of properties that can be realised by modification of their structure, architecture, and assembly. Since the pioneering work of Pierre de Gennes, Sam Edwards, and Masao Doi, we know that the thermal motion of polymers, either in bulk or in concentrated solutions, is governed by the topological restriction induced by neighbouring chains, i.e., by the presence of entanglements.

The presence (or even absence!) of entanglements between macromolecules will affect chain dynamics in melt and/or solution, thus influencing the response of the material during processing, the formation and stability of micelles, and the elasticity of polymeric gels. Understanding how entanglements form with respect to the polymer’s microstructure/architecture, and how they evolve as a function of thermal or mechanical stresses, is then pivotal for the design of new and improved materials.

The present Special Issue will showcase a selection of articles reporting on recent developments in, and the current standing of, the topic of polymer entanglements, covering both experimental research and theoretical modelling aspects.

Dr. Sara Ronca
Guest Editor

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