Some open questions in the elasticity of polymer networks

Abstract

We briefly present a description of a rubber, of the classical theories for rubber mechanical properties and of our small angle neutron scattering experiments, as a representative sample of observations at the molecular scale. We then comment about the comparison of our data with calculations form the classical models (“phantom network” and “junction affine”). Discrepancies appear, which are an opportunity to discuss the questions of defects, pendant chains and trapped entanglements and to make some remarks on the complicated connectivity of polymer networks even without chemical defects.