Folding of electrostatically charged beads-on-a-string as an experimental realization of a theoretical model in polymer science.

ABSTRACT: The "beads-on-a-string" model for folding of polymers is a cornerstone of theoretical polymer science. This communication describes a physical model of beads-on-a-string, based on the folding of flexible strings of electrostatically charged beads in two dimensions. The system comprises millimeter-scale Teflon and Nylon-6,6 (spherical or cylindrical) beads (approximately 6 mm in diameter) separated by smaller (approximately 3 mm) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) spherical beads, threaded on a flexible string. The smaller, uncharged beads define the distances between the larger beads, and control the flexibility of the string. During agitation of the sequence of beads on a planar, horizontal paper surface, tribocharging generates opposite electrostatic charges on the larger Nylon and Teflon

SUBMITTER: Reches M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2764904 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature