Abstract
We studied theoretically how the network topology influences the mechanical properties of polymers. We used conclusions of thermofluctuation theory of fracture and graph theory. The long-term strengths of monofunctional and polyfunctional networks were compared. The cross-link functionality distribution of the polyfunctional networks is a power function. All other conditions being equal, the long-term strengths of the polyfunctional polymer networks are some three to four times the long-term strengths of the monofunctional networks.