An architecture of a Polymer material, where the polymer molecules are cross-linked in a Network.
Elasticity
predictive theory of elasticity in a polymer network – video
These chains form networks in which each chain would ideally bind to only one other chain. However, in real-life materials, a significant fraction of these chains bind to themselves, forming defects—floppy loops that weaken the network. These loops also make it impossible to accurately calculate the material's elasticity, because existing formulas for this calculation assume that the material has no defects.
The new method, network disassembly spectrometry allowed them to measure the number of loops, and see its effect on Elasticity. They also developed a new theory, as previous models didn't predict what they measured. The theory is based on the Phantom network theory (vid)
Bend and stretch dominated phases.
Used to model Biopolymer network