STAR POLYMERS: FROM CONFORMATIONS TO INTERACTIONS TO PHASE DIAGRAMS

Abstract

We review recent progress achieved in the theoretical description of the interactions, correlations, and phase behavior of concentrated solutions of star polymers, sterically stabilized colloids, and micelles. We show that the theoretical prediction of an ultrasoft, logarithmically diverging effective in-teraction between the star centers, which has been confirmed by SANS-experiments and computer simulations, lies in the core of a host of unusual phenomena encountered in such systems. These include anomalous struc-ture factors, reentrant melting behavior, as well as a variety of exotic crystal phases. Extensions to polydisperse stars and the role of many-body forces are also discussed. A particular 'mean-field' character of star polymer flu-ids is presented and it is shown that it manifests itself in the shape and structure of sedimentation profiles of these systems.