Steered molecular dynamics simulation of the detaching process of two parallel surfaces glued together by a single polyethylene chain

The detaching process of two parallel surfaces glued together by a single polyethylene chain in vacuo was investigated with a steered molecular dynamics method. Various statistical properties were analyzed in detail, including the mean‐square end‐to‐end distance; parallel and perpendicular mean‐square radii of gyration; shape factor; segment density distribution; average percentages of the microstructure of the chain of the tail, train, bridge, and loop; average surface adsorption energy; average total energy; and average pulling force (〈f〉). All these properties depended strongly on the pulling velocity (v). There existed a peak in the curve of 〈f〉 as a function of the detaching distance. Further, the relation between the maximum value of 〈f〉 and v showed three distinctive regions: a region of weak dependence at v < 10^?2 Å/ps, a region of strong dependence at 10^?2 Å/ps < v < 6.50 Å/ps, and a region of weak dependence at v > 6.50 Å/ps. These investigations may provide some insight into the microcosmic principle of the failure process of polymeric adhesives. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010