MOLECULAR-DYNAMICS STUDY OF THE VULCANIZATION TRANSITION

We report on extensive computer simulations of randomly cross-linked p olymer networks in the vicinity of the liquid-solid transition. We hav e determined the order parameter and the distribution of localization lengths as a function of cross-link density it near the critical point for up to M = 500 chains of length N = 10 and M = 100 chains of lengt h n = 20. We find that the order parameter varies as q(n)similar to n- n(c), in agreement with the classical and modem theories of rubber ela sticity and that the distribution of localization lengths assumes a un iversal form, in agreement with recent predictions.