Elasticity of randomly cross-linked networks in primitive chain network simulations

TL;DR

This study uses primitive chain network simulations to analyze the elasticity of randomly cross-linked networks, comparing results with existing theories and highlighting limitations in parameter fitting and theoretical descriptions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the limitations of current theories in accurately modeling the elasticity of cross-linked networks when using parameters derived from simulation data.

Findings

Simulation results align with theories when using fitted parameters.

Parameters are model-dependent and not directly linked to physical entanglements.

Theories fail to describe results when parameters are based solely on active link counts.

Abstract

Primitive chain network simulations for randomly cross-linked slip-link networks were performed. For the percolated networks, the stress-strain relationship was compared to the theories by Ball et al. [Polymer, 22, 1010 (1981)] and Rubinstein and Panyukov [Macromolecules, 35, 6670 (2002)]. The simulation results were reasonably reproduced by both theories, given that the contributions from cross-links and slip-links were used as fitting parameters. However, these parameters were model dependent. Besides, the theories cannot describe the simulation results if the parameters were determined from the number of active links involved in the percolated networks. These results reveal that the fitting of experimental data to the theories does not provide a fraction of entanglements in the system unless the network only consists of Gaussian strands and it correctly reaches the state of free-energy minimum.