In soft matter physics, the plumber's nightmare is a structure characterized by fully connected, periodic, and topologically nontrivial surfaces. It consists of two surfaces, each of which is topologically like the surface of the bars of a jungle gym. These two "jungle gyms" are interwoven. It was predicted decades ago that this structure could be thermodynamically favored under certain circumstances.[1]
In 2003 researchers succeeded in making a plumber's nightmare structure using a block copolymer of polyisoprene and polyethylene oxide mixed with aluminum sec-butoxide and a compound containing silicon. The polyisoprene parts formed the "jungle gym", and upon calcining this left a matrix of aluminosilicate.[2]
The term plumber's nightmare became widely known through a publication[3] by David A. Huse and Stanislas Leibler who attribute the name to Sol Gruner.
Other Uses edit
The Window's 3-D Pipes Screensaver is also known as The Plumber's Nightmare
References edit
- ^ Zahra Khan (Jan 12, 2024). "Thermodynamically stable 'plumber's nightmare' structure self-assembles from block copolymers". Chemistry World.
- ^ Adam C. Finnefrock; et al. (2003). "The Plumber's Nightmare: A New Morphology in Block Copolymer-Ceramic Nanocomposites and Mesoporous Aluminosilicates" (PDF). JACS. doi:10.1021/ja0355170.
- ^ David A. Huse, Stanislas Leibler. Phase behaviour of an ensemble of nonintersecting random fluid films. Journal de Physique, 1988, 49 (4), pp.605-621. doi:10.1051/jphys:01988004904060500
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