We use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the microscopic and macroscopic response of model polymer networks to uniaxial elongations. By studying networks with strands lengths ranging from Ns=20 to 200 we cover the full crossover from cross-link to entanglement dominated behavior. Our results support a recent version of the tube model which accounts for the different strain dependence of chain localization due to chemical cross-links and entanglements.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0410297,
title = {Strain-dependent localization, microscopic deformations, and macroscopic normal tensions in model polymer networks},
author = {Carsten Svaneborg and Gary S. Grest and Ralf Everaers},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0410297},
year = {2009}
}