Elastic energy in microscopically phase-separated swollen polymer networks

Viatcheslav Freger

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    35 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    The paper analyzes a microscopic regime of strain, different from the one conventionally considered, that presumably takes place in swollen polymers showing strong microscopic phase separation, such as ion-exchange resins in water. Such systems show linear dependence of the elastic pressure on swelling in contrast to the Flory-Rehner theory and its modifications. The present work proposes a simple model that predicts this kind of behavior. Swelling is considered as a non-affine 'inflation' of the hydrophobic matrix by small aggregates of water molecules ('droplets') adsorbed by highly hydrophilic groups, whereas the macroscopic dimensions of the sample change as a result of the compression of the 'films' separating the droplets. This compression is then analyzed along the classical lines. In the case of the Dowex resins a partial test of the model based on the reported shear moduli showed reasonable agreement with experiment.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)71-76
    Number of pages6
    JournalPolymer
    Volume43
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 12 Oct 2001

    Keywords

    • Elastic energy
    • Non-affine model
    • Swelling

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Organic Chemistry
    • Polymers and Plastics
    • Materials Chemistry

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