GROWTH OF DYNAMIC POLYMERS (MICELLES) IN SHEAR-FLOW

A nonequilibrium statistical mechanical theory for dilute micellized surfactant solutions undergoing shear flow is presented based on the wide separation of time scales of hydrodynamics and self-assembly "reaction". In two dimensions, a simple shear flow is found to promote cylindrical micelles to grow so that they can be better aligned in the flow direction. When the rodlike micelles acquire sufficient rotational kinetic energy in the shear, they break. Introduction of a micellar size cutoff due to this breakage smooths this shear-induced micellar growth. The phenomenon predicted here appears to be different from the experimental observations made by the Bayreuth group.