A mathematical model of thermoplastic elastomers for analysing the topology of microstructures and mechanical properties during elongation

Abstract

In this study, a mathematical model based on graph theory is developed to analyse the deformed structures and mechanical properties of thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) using ABA-type triblock copolymers. TPEs exhibit a network structure formed by bridge chains; deformation of this network structure causes stress. During the deformation of TPEs, domain breakage and coalescence occur, accompanied by topological changes in the chains, such as conformational transitions between the bridge and loop chains. By employing the mathematical concepts of harmonic realization of graphs in the physical space and the tension tensor to quantify the stress in the bridge-chain network structure, an effective method for analysing topologicalchanges in microstructures caused by elongation is proposed. As an application of this method, optimal geometric structures of block copolymers with desired functionalities can be determined.