TOPOLOGICAL ANALYSIS ON THE MODULUS AND NETWORK STRUCTURE OF MISCIBLEPOLYMER BLENDS

A topological theory is introduced to extend Tsenoglou's theory to pol ymer blends having temporary and permanent networks composed of multic omponent polymers which have miscible and flexible chains. The topolog ical theory may estimate the values of free elastic energy, the molecu lar weight between entanglements, and the equilibrium shear moduli, an d it may establish more correctly the topological relations among thes e physical quantities. Through such introduction of the topological th eory, there can be topologically analyzed the mixing law for the rubbe ry plateau modulus of a fluid polymer blend, and there can be consider ed the topological relationship to the equilibrium modulus of an inter penetrating polymer network containing trapped entanglements and dangl ing segments. The theoretically predictive values are compared and sho w good agreement with the experimental data for several miscible polym er blends.