Effect of the Number of Subnetworks on the Topology and Mechanical Properties of Interpenetrating Networks: Computer Simulation

The mechanical properties of solvent-fks obtained by three different crosslinking mechanisms are investigated by the dissipative particle dynamics method. It is shown that, upon crosslinking without additional conditions (the vulcanization model), the amount of defects increases with an increase in the number of subnetworks, thereby worsening the rigidity of the system. If crosslinking mechanisms excluding formation of a certain kind of defects are used, that is, the network topology approaches the ideal one, interpenetrating networks with a higher number of subnetworks, on the contrary, demonstrate a higher rigidity owing to the fact that subchains in them are more strained. This effect is not observed in networks synthesized upon crosslinking without additional conditions. The reasons for this behavior and probable experimental analogies are discussed.