High-frequency stress relaxation in semiflexible polymer solutions and networks

Phys Rev Lett. 2006 Apr 7;96(13):138307. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.138307. Epub 2006 Apr 7.

Abstract

We measure the linear viscoelasticity of sterically entangled and chemically cross-linked networks of actin filaments over more than five decades of frequency. The high-frequency response reveals rich dynamics unique to semiflexible polymers, including a previously unobserved relaxation due to rapid axial tension propagation. For high molecular weight, and for cross-linked gels, we obtain quantitative agreement with predicted shear moduli in both amplitude and frequency dependence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / chemistry*
  • Cross-Linking Reagents / chemistry
  • Elasticity
  • Gels / chemistry
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Viscosity

Substances

  • Cross-Linking Reagents
  • Gels