Coarse-grained Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Wear Mechanism of Cyclic Polymer Brushes

We investigated the effect of a cyclic chain structure on the wear resistance of polymer brushes via coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Friction simulations were performed for cyclic and linear polymer brushes, and the former was found to exhibit superior wear resistance. The cyclic structure suppressed the interpenetration of the polymer chain at the sliding interface, thereby reducing the frictional force and improving the wear resistance for the cyclic polymer brush. We investigated the effect of a cyclic chain structure on the wear resistance of polymer brushes using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. Friction simulations revealed that the cyclic polymer brush had superior wear resistance to a linear polymer brush. The cyclic structure suppressed the interpenetration of the polymer chains, thereby reducing the frictional force and improving the wear resistance.