Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation of oxidative aging of polymers -effect of free radical diffusivity -

Abstract

Recently, we developed an oxidative aging simulation technique that explicitly considers the transport of radicals by combining oxidation kinetics with coarse-grained molecular dynamics [1]. The current study explores the role of the free radical diffusivity of oxidative aging in polymers, with a focus on its effects on the heterogeneity of spatiotemporal structures and reaction kinetics, through coarse-grained simulations. By examining two distinct systems, including a heterosystem with a high reaction rate and a quasi-homosystem with a low reaction rate, we investigated how the diffusivity of free radicals influences the oxidative aging process. We examined three different diffusivity levels of radicals. For the slowest case, the radical diffusivity is slightly faster than that of the single polymer segment, whereas for the fastest case, the radical diffuses infinitely faster than the polymers. The aging simulations revealed that the variations in free radical diffusivity quantitatively change the reaction kinetics and spatiotemporal structures without qualitatively altering the overall aging behavior. Specifically, in a heterosystem, lower radical diffusivity slows the oxidation kinetics by increasing fluctuations in the local conversion ratios. In contrast, in a quasi-homosystem, reduced radical diffusivity slightly amplifies the heterogeneity of structures in the early aging stages; however, in a high-conversion region, the aged state becomes homogeneous regardless of the degree of radical diffusivity. We recently developed an oxidative aging simulation that combines oxidation kinetics with coarse-grained molecular dynamics. This study examines free radical diffusivity in polymer aging, focusing on its impact on spatiotemporal structures and reaction kinetics. We explored two systems with varying reaction rates and three radical diffusivity levels, observing how changes in diffusivity affect aging. Our findings indicate that while radical diffusivity alters reaction kinetics and structures, it does not fundamentally change the aging scenarios.