STATIC PROPERTIES OF NONINTERACTING COMB POLYMERS IN DENSE AND DILUTEMEDIA - A MONTE-CARLO STUDY

We present an application of the cooperative motion algorithm (CMA) to ramified polymers. As a model for so-called comb polymers, we conside r a main chain of fixed length to which a various number of side chain s of different lengths are anchored. The effect of the molecular archi tecture on the side and on the main chain is investigated. We consider the two- and the three-dimensional case and compare numerical results obtained in dense melts and dilute solutions. The results show a stro ng influence of the molecular structure on the properties of the main chain. Initially Gaussian chains stretch and become non-Gaussian and n on-Markovian. The side chains remain randomly coiled in three-dimensio nal melts and stretch slightly in two dimensions and in three dimensio nal solutions.