Grafted Polymer Chains Interacting with Substrates: Computer Simulations and Scaling

We review scaling methods and computer simulations used in the study of the static and dynamic properties of polymer chains tethered to adsorbing surfaces under good solvent conditions. By varying both the grafting density and the monomer/surface interactions a variety of phases can form. In particular, for attractive interactions between the chains and the surface the classical mushroom‐brush transition known for repulsive substrates splits up into an overlap transition and a saturation transition which enclose a region of semidilute surface states. At high grafting densities oversaturation effects and a transition to a brush state can occur. We emphasize the role of the critical adsorption parameters for a correct description and understanding of such polymer adsorption phenomena. magnified image