Conformational properties of terminally attached and free-floating polymer chains confined between attractive plane boundaries

Abstract

The internal spatial distributions of self-avoiding hard sphere sequences are determined for terminally attached and free-floating systems between two rigid boundaries of variable attraction and separation. In all cases the terminally attached distributions are characterised by a pronounced density discontinuity and internal structure, whilst the free-floating sequences form either mono- or biglobular coils depending upon the details of attraction, temperature and boundary separation. The role of entropic and van der Walls contributions to the structure and excess free energy are clearly resolved, and their implications for colloidal stability against flocculation discussed. The mean square molecular span and centre of gravity are also determined as a function of chain length interaction strength and boundary separation.