Origin of Rubber Elasticity

Under suitable conditions, virtually all rubbery materials exhibit the ability to sustain deformations followed by complete recovery upon removal of the stress. This phenomenon holds significance beyond the narrow confines of the term “rubber elasticity” This elasticity theory is also of great importance in the deformation of any substances., e.g., in the deformation of amorphous or semi-crystalline polymers. Rubber elasticity is also essential to the functions of elastic proteins and muscles. Thus, the theory of rubber elasticity is centrally essential to much of polymer science. In this chapter, we have touched upon some of the basic concepts of thermodynamics of rubber elasticity and other factors affecting it.