THEORETICAL-ANALYSIS OF THE ELASTOMERIC AND OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF NETWORKS OF SEMIRIGID CHAINS IN THE SWOLLEN STATE

The recently proposed lattice model for segmental orientation in elong ated networks of semirigid chains is used here to study the relationsh ipd among true stress, deformation, orientation, and birefringence. Of particular interest are the effects of the volume fraction of polymer (in a swollen lyotropic network) and the rigidity of the network chai ns (measured by the axial ratio of Kuhn segments of the chains) on str ess-strain and stress-birefringence behavior. The elastomeric and opti cal behavior of the networks in isotropic and nematic states and netwo rks undergoing phase transformation are thus characterized. Illustrati ve numerical analyses are also presented.