We present a model which provides a new physical picture of the detachment process of homopolymers from a solid surface, based on the results of dynamic Monte Carlo simulations. The model predicts a power-law dependence on the chain length, with an exponent of $\sim 2.5$, for the average lifetime of a chain on the surface and could be used to reinterpret some of the recent experimental results.

• Received 25 July 1994

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.74.2503