Polymer melts: a theoretical justification of double reptation

(Received 29 November 1991, revised 10 September 1992, accepted 22 September 1992)

Abstract
The concept of double reptation in polymer melts is supported by experiment and seems to be logical. However the dissymetry of the disentanglement process cannot be denied, and therefore double reptation has to be proven. This is done here in the framework of two models in which either the polymer is fixed at stress points or it may slip through these points. The results can be summarized in the same way: the stress relaxation function is proportional to the density of polymer segments limited by stress points. These points can be relaxed either by reptation or by "tube release".