Deformation Behavior and Failure of Bimodal Networks

Abstract

Using computer simulations, we have investigated the deformation and stress–strain behavior of a series of ideal gels without any defects, with a bimodal molecular weight distribution, subject to tensile strains. These networks were prepared with a spatially homogeneous distribution of short and long chains, where all chains are elastically active, without needing to consider possible effects of chain aggregation or entanglements on the physical properties. For all fractions of short chains, the first chains to rupture were the short chains that were initially oriented along the strain axis. The average orientation of the short chains slightly increased with decreasing fraction of short chains. This could be explained by the detailed structure of the network at different compositions. Analysis of the stress–strain relation for the short and long chains showed that the stress was not uniformly shared. Instead, the short chains are more strongly deformed whereas the long chains only make a negligible contri...