Relationship between elastic modulus and volume swelling degree of polymer networks swollen to equilibrium in good diluents, 4. Interpretation of experimental results on the basis of scaling concepts

Abstract

Abstract The results displayed in the present paper deal with the scaling behaviour of various polymer networks swollen at equilibrium in good diluents. The scaling law, established by de Gennes, between the elastic modulus and the equilibrium segment concentration was tested using polystyrene networks, poly(ethylene oxide) networks, and poly(2,3‐dihydroxypropyl methacrylate) networks. The experimental exponents s obtained are generally in agreement with the expected theoretical value ( s = 2,25), especially for networks obtained at high conversion degrees whatever the nature of the polymer or the type of gelation. At incomplete conversions, the sol‐fraction is important and the defects are numerous; in this case discrepancies are observed between the theoretical and experimental exponents.