Swelling equations for confined homogeneous and heterogeneous polymeric networks: Calculation of M̄c in swellable two-phase systems

Swelling equations were derived for polymeric networks that consist of two swellable but distinct phases. These equations can be used to describe the equilibrium swelling behavior of certain two‐phase network systems. Using physicochemical measurements of the equilibrium polymer volume fraction, it was possible to calculate the number‐average molecular weight between crosslinks, M̄c, using these equations. The influence of several structural parameters on M̄c was investigated. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.