Elastic Moduli of 2D Grafted Tethered Membranes

Overview & Synopsis

In order to simulate the elastic behaviour of 2D gels, we introduce a tethered model. Both excluded volume and topological constraints are taken into account. When the gel is grafted on a surface, removing cross-links transforms the grid into a polymer brush. The Monte Carlo study of elastic moduli proves that the brush, a less constrained system, has a greater shear modulus than the grid. This apparent paradox shows the influence of thermal fluctuations that reveals correlations of “blocks" inside these structures.