Equilibrium Swelling and Elastic Modulus of End-linked Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Networks in Theta Solvent

Abstract

The degree of equilibrium swelling and the dynamic Young's modulus for end-linked poly(dimethylsiloxane) networks in theta solvent are investigated as a function of polymer concentration at preparation. The experimental results agree well with the predictions of modified affine model, while they are not satisfactorily reproduced by the c* theorem.