MECHANICAL MODEL FOR RUBBERS CONTAINING ENTANGLEMENTS

A simple model of macromolecular networks containing both chemical crosslinks and entanglements is developed by assuming that in the entanglements the chains may slide so as to equilibrate their tension. The resulting constitutive equation shows small but significant departures from the classical statistical theory, which are generally in qualitative agreement with the mechanical behaviour of rubbers. © 1979 Dr. Dietrich Steinkopff Verlag.