Discrete Network Modelling of Near-Ideal Polymer Networks

In recent years, new types of polymer gels have emerged, which have a controllable network structure and few topological defects. These near-ideal polymer networks constitute a good model system to revisit the long-standing problem of structure-property relationships in polymer networks. We develop a novel, mesoscale computational approach based on random Discrete Networks (DNs). The variable structure of DN allows the investigation of different network features on the network elasticity. We obtain numerical scaling relationships between network parameters and elastic properties. The scaling relationships are used to probe the evolution in the network structure of tetra-PEG gels with different preparation conditions.