Swelling properties of cross‐linked maxillofacial elastomers

Silicone specimens cross‐linked with various amounts of cross‐linking agent were studied in terms of mechanical and swelling behavior. The measured tensile modulus allowed calculation of the average molecular weight between cross‐links (M̄c). Equilibrium swelling data were also used, in combination with the determined M̄c values, to obtain the interaction parameter χ of various silicone–solvent systems at 25°C. Part of this work was also the study of swelling of silicone samples with varying network density in selected solvents such as toluene, ethyl acetate, n‐butanol, and methyl ethyl ketone. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Copyright © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc