| Abstract: | Equilibrium elastic behaviour of crosslinked polymers (networks) is analysed both from the macroscopic (phenomenological) and microscopic (molecular) points of view. Molecular mechanisms possibly responsible for non-linear rubber elasticity are discussed. They include: conformational entropy of network chains at small and large extensions, hindered rotation of such chains and intra-chain point interactions, dipole-dipole interactions between asymmetric chain segments, and topological constraints leading to chain entanglement. |
