POLYMER GELS - FROZEN INHOMOGENEITIES AND DENSITY-FLUCTUATIONS

We present a phenomenological theory of randomly cross-linked polymer networks based on the separation of solid-like and liquid-like degrees of freedom and taking into account the frozen inhomogeneity of networ k structure. The complete solution of the statistical mechanics of thi s model is given, and the monomer density correlation functions are ca lculated for neutral gels in good and Theta solvents. The theoretical scattering curves are compared to the results of small angle neutron s cattering and light: scattering experiments, and new experimental test s of our theory are proposed.