Dynamics of Entangled Solutions of Associating Polymers

The process of making and breaking reversible bonds between associating groups (stickers) controls the dynamics of associating polymers. We develop a theory of “sticky reptation” to model the dynamics of entangled solutions of associating polymers with many stickers per chain. At a high degree of association, there are very few unassociated stickers. It is therefore very difficult for a sticker to find a new partner to associate with after breaking the bond with an old one. Typically a sticker returns to its old partner following an unsuccessful search for a new one, prolonging the effective lifetime of reversible bonds. In the sticky reptation model, the search for a new partner is restricted to a part of the tube confining the entangled chain. Another important effect is the increase of the fraction of the interchain associations at the expense of the intrachain ones with increasing polymer concentration. The sticky reptation model predicts a very strong concentration dependence of viscosity in good agreement with experiments.