Depletion and bridging forces in polymer systems:: Monte Carlo simulations at constant chemical potential

A new Monte Carlo simulation method designed for polymer solutions confined to planar slits is presented. The slit is in equilibrium with a surrounding bulk solution and the method allows a variation of the slit width while maintaining the polymer chemical potential constant. This is achieved by changing the tangential pressure as a function of slit width. An analysis of chain parameters and monomer distribution within the slit has been carried out. The model system used is supposed to mimick a macromolecular solution whose stability is manipulated by addition of adsorbing and/or nonadsorbing polymers. Generally, for the nonadsorbing polymer an attractive depletion force is found. At high volume fractions the attraction is reduced and a repulsive force appears at short separations. The depletion force can also be extinguished in the case of an adsorption potential of intermediate strength, while strong adsorption gives rise to a significant attraction due to polymer bridges. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-9606(00)50237-2].