Brownian Dynamics Simulations of Dendrimers under Shear Flow

Abstract

Brownian dynamics simulations of perfect dendrimers up to the sixth generation have been performed under the influence of simple shear flow. Hydrodynamic and excluded volume interactions have been taken into account explicitly. The onset of shear-thinning is observed to occur at lower shear rates for larger dendrimers (i.e. more generations). As the generation increases, the zero shear rate intrinsic viscosity reaches a maximum and begins to fall. The radius of gyration, the hydrodynamic radius, the translational mobility, and radial density profiles including the location of the terminal groups are also reported.