Structure-Property Relationships — Rubbery Polymers

Abstract

Like glassy polymers, rubbery polymers are also complicated by effects absent from most small molecule systems such as molecular weight, thermal history and non-ideal structure. Therefore most predictive methods for polymer properties limit the problem by assuming a reference of a monodisperse infinite molecular weight, with no branching or structural variation (see Structure-Property Relationships: Glassy Polymers). As with glassy polymers, we shall confine our discussion to low strains described by the “equlibrium” mechanical moduli. Rubbery polymers have the same amorphous structure as glassy polymers but this order is not frozen in as these polymers are above the glass transition temperature (Tg). Mechanical properties in rubbery polymers are characterized by the rubbery plateau seen Figure 1.KeywordsBulk ModulusGlassy PolymerBasic Structural MethodRubbery PlateauMechanical ModulusThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.