Theory of Elasticity of Polymer Networks. 3

The theory of elasticity of polymer networks is reformulated with greater generality and improved concision. In particular, the domains of constraint that, due to entanglements and steric requirements of real polymer chains, impede fluctuations of the junctions are introduced in a way that admits of a more rapid attenuation of these constraints than affine transformation of them with strain would allow. Illustrative calculations are presented on the contribution of the constraints to the stress in uniaxial deformation as a function of the extension ratio and the degree of dilation. The calculated reduced force is decidedly nonlinear with the reciprocal of the extension ratio. © 1982, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.