Statistical mechanics of polymers subject to a force (Q2822109)

The paper is a review of how one can analyze the responses of polymer molecules subject to external applied forces, which can be tensile or compressive, by using some techniques of statistical mechanics. One describes the main considered model in terms of random walks, directed walks, self-avoiding walks, and one shows how it applies to a large collection of systems. The study is focused on lattice models. One investigates the adsorption of a polymer at an impenetrable surface and the mechanical desorption caused by an applied force which is used to pull the walk from a compact form to an extended one. Direct generalizations result in heterogeneous surfaces and copolymers. It is shown that statistical mechanics is quite relevant to investigate these models.