Chain conformational statistics and mechanical properties of elastomer blends

Design of mechanical properties, especially the relation between tensile and dynamic moduli in terms of chain conformational statistics is considered. Data on new elastomer blends with gradient properties, able for mixing on molecular level and partial networking with separation of phases, are analyzed in parallel to classical commodity materials. Especial attention is paid to synergetic effects of the increase of blend modulus, relative to moduli obtained by linear "rule of mixtures" for component polymer moduli, described by Kleiner-Karasz-MacKnight equation, and new models based on self-similar scaling of elastomer network dynamics. New data on model blends exposing synergetic effects with the change of conformational statistics are presented as well.