Thermodynamic admissibility of the pompon model for branched polymers

The pompon model for branched polymers is re-formulated within a general framework of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. While the original model of McLeish and Larson is found to be thermodynamically admissible, nonequilibrium thermodynamics strongly suggests several model modifications. As an immediate consequence, a nonzero second normal-stress coefficient in shear flow is predicted by the modified pompon model.