Figure 1.
Illustration of a bottlebrush network (BBN), highlighting the most important network parameters for this study, nx: the degree of polymerization between cross-links and RK: the kinetic chain length. These parameters are controlled by the inverse of mol % cross-linker and the monomer to initiator (M/I ratio). Other notable bottlebrush parameters (side chain length, cross-linker length, and grafting density) remain consistent throughout this study and are not highlighted here. The backbones here are depicted as straight “rods” solely for ease of presentation of concepts—they are Rouse-like chains.