Quantitative Evaluation of Connectivity in Elastomers for Describing Rubber Elasticity Based on Network Theory

In this review, the author introduces a recent contribution to the development of a quantitative evaluation method of connectivity in elastomers for describing rubber elasticity. In synthetic processes, the elastomers possess a heterogeneous network structure, which affects the rheological behaviors of elastomers, such as rubber elasticity. Although the heterogeneous structure of elastomers has been evaluated using both experimental and simulation methods, it is still difficult to estimate the heterogeneous structure of elastomers in terms of connectivity. Recently, the author reported a novel evaluation method for the chain connectivity of elastomers based on network theory to describe rubber elasticity. The unified centrality, including both topological and spatial information, can describe certain parameters related to rubber elasticity. Furthermore, the behavior of extended chains is also described by centrality. This approach is expected to contribute to progress in the theory of rubber elasticity by considering complex connectivity.