Rheological Modelling of Dynamically Crosslinked Polymer Networks

Dynamically crosslinked polymer networks, can behave like thermostats at low temperatures with excellent mechanical properties, and like thermoplastics at high temperatures where the network structure can be re-organized due to dynamic crosslinks. We develop a statistical model for analysing the universal viscoelastic properties of such dynamically crosslinked polymer networks, where the microscopic dynamics of the crosslinks are incorporated. By applying the model to vitrimers and exchangeable liquid crystal elastomers as two examples, we investigate the rheology of the materials, for example, linear viscoelasticity, stress relaxation, creep compliance, etc.

[1] J. Zhao, F. Meng*, in preparation (2025)
[2] J. Zhao, F. Meng*, Physical Review Letters 131, 068101 (2023)
[3] F. Meng*, M. Saed, E. Terentjev*, Nature Communications 13: 5753 (2022)