Topological Friction: Insight from Dynamics of a Test Chain in a Fixed-Topology Polymer Network (opens in new tab)

Author(s): Zhenhua Wang, Yuyuan Lu, Lijia An, and Zhen-Gang WangThe tube model has long served as a cornerstone of entangled polymer dynamics and rheology. We test some of the key concepts of the tube model by investigating the equilibrium dynamics of a free chain in a fixed-topology polymer network using molecular dynamics simulation. Our results reveal signifi…[Phys. Rev. Lett. 136, 248101] Published Tue Jun 16, 2026