Optical-Tweezers-integrating-Differential-Dynamic-Microscopy maps the spatiotemporal propagation of nonlinear strains in polymer blends and composites

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32876-y
• Publication Date: 2022-09-02T16:06:32Z
• Authors: Karthik R. Peddir...; Ryan Clairmont; Philip Neill; Ryan McGorty; Rae M. Robertson-...
• Keywords: Condensed Matter - Materials Science; Microscopy; Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics; Optical Tweezers; Polymers; Viscosity; Science; Q; Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci); FOS: Physical sciences; 02 engineering and technology; Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter; 01 natural sciences; Article; Elasticity; 0104 chemical sciences; Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall); Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft); 0210 nano-technology; Microtubule-Associated Proteins

Abstract How local stresses propagate through polymeric fluids, and, more generally, how macromolecular dynamics give rise to viscoelasticity are open questions vital wide-ranging scientific and industrial fields. Here, unambiguously connect polymer force response, map the deformation fields that arise in materials, we present Optical-Tweezers-integrating-Differential -Dynamic-Microscopy (OpTiDMM) simultaneously imposes strains, measures resistive forces, analyzes motion of surrounding polymers. Our measurements with blends ring linear polymers (DNA) their composites stiff (microtubules) uncover an unexpected resonant which strain alignment, superdiffusivity, elasticity maximized when rate is comparable entanglement rate. Microtubules suppress this resonance, while substantially increasing elastic storage, due varying degrees buildup, stretch flow along path, configurationally relax induced stress. More broadly, rich multi-scale coupling mechanics afforded by OpTiDDM, empowers its interdisciplinary use elucidate non-trivial phenomena sculpt stress propagation dynamics–critical commercial applications cell alike.