A polymeric gel is an aggregate of polymers and solvent molecules, which can retain its shape after a large deformation. The deformation behavior of polymeric gels was often described based on the Flory-Rehner free en...A polymeric gel is an aggregate of polymers and solvent molecules, which can retain its shape after a large deformation. The deformation behavior of polymeric gels was often described based on the Flory-Rehner free energy function without considering the influence of chain entanglements on the mechanical behavior of gels. In this paper,a new hybrid free energy function for gels is formulated by combining the EdwardsVilgis slip-link model and the Flory-Huggins mixing model to quantify the time-dependent concurrent process of large deformation and mass transport. The finite element method is developed to analyze examples of swelling-induced deformation. Simulation results are compared with available experimental data and show good agreement. The influence of entanglements on the time-dependent deformation behavior of gels is also demonstrated.The study of large deformation kinetics of polymeric gel is useful for diverse applications.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11272237 and11502131)the Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province(No.2016J05019)the Foundation of the Higher Education Institutions of Fujian Education Department for Distinguished Young Scholar(No.[2016]23)
文摘A polymeric gel is an aggregate of polymers and solvent molecules, which can retain its shape after a large deformation. The deformation behavior of polymeric gels was often described based on the Flory-Rehner free energy function without considering the influence of chain entanglements on the mechanical behavior of gels. In this paper,a new hybrid free energy function for gels is formulated by combining the EdwardsVilgis slip-link model and the Flory-Huggins mixing model to quantify the time-dependent concurrent process of large deformation and mass transport. The finite element method is developed to analyze examples of swelling-induced deformation. Simulation results are compared with available experimental data and show good agreement. The influence of entanglements on the time-dependent deformation behavior of gels is also demonstrated.The study of large deformation kinetics of polymeric gel is useful for diverse applications.
