Eur. Phys. J. E 6, 221-229 (2001)
Tube model for the elasticity of entangled nematic rubbers
S. Kutter and E.M. TerentjevCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, United Kingdom emt1000@cam.ac.uk
(Received 25 June 2001)
Abstract
Dense rubbery networks are highly entangled polymer
systems, with significant topological restrictions for the
mobility of neighbouring chains and crosslinks preventing the
reptation constraint release. In a mean-field approach,
entanglements are treated within the famous reptation approach,
since they effectively confine each individual chain in a
tube-like geometry. We apply these classical ideas to calculate
the effective rubber-elastic free energy of anisotropic networks,
nematic liquid crystal elastomers, and present the first theory of
entanglements for such a material.
61.41.+e - Polymers, elastomers, and plastics.
61.30.Vx - Polymer liquid crystals.
62.20.Dc - Elasticity, elastic constants.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2001
