Experimental evidence of the volume dependence of the deformational free energy of polymer networks

Summary Analysis of reported data on the swelling and deformation of polymer networks shows that the volume-dependent term in the deformational free energy cannot be neglected. The analysis is based on a comparison between the equilibrium modulof networks prepared at various dilutions and of the same degree of swelling and on a comparison between concentration dependences of the interaction parameter for a linear and a crosslinked polymer.