Dynamical Studies of Polymeric Cluster Solutions Obtained near the Gelation Threshold: Glasslike Behavior

Abstract

We report preliminary dynamical structure-factor $G(q,t)$ measurements performed on polydisperse polymer cluster solutions at concentrations such that the largest clusters are partly penetrated by smaller clusters. Upon increase of the polymer concentration, the $G(q,t)$ profile goes from a stretched-exponential function, with an exponent which decreases as concentration increases, to a power-law function. These features suggest that the dynamical properties of this system exhibit glasslike behavior.