Dear Shamil,

These are two interesting questions that you raise.  They relate to the general topic of defects in polymer networks and the way they are classified and categorized.  To my knowledge, there is no consistent and universal definition on this, but instead, several different perspectives of classification have been introduced in the past decades.  The one closest to the cases you describe is, in my view, a scheme of classification by Shibayama and colleagues that distinguishes between three types of polymer-network irregularities.  These are (i) spatial inhomogeneities, referring to non-uniform spatial distribution of the crosslinking junctions, (ii) topological inhomogeneities, which encompass network defects such as loops and dangling chains, and (iii) connectivity inhomogeneities, related to the size distribution of nano- and microgel clusters at the gelation threshold, thereby relevant during the process of gel percolation.  According to this scheme, it appears that a mix-up of the categories (ii) and (iii) is related to the structural features you describe.  Here's the reference from which this is taken:

F. Ikkai, M. Shibayama, "Inhomogeneity control in polymer gels", J. Polym. Sci. B: Polym. Phys. 2005, 43(6), 617–628. DOI: 10.1002/polb.20358.

Greetings,

Sebastian

Indeed interesting questions.

For your 2nd question: it is a matter what you like study. If a micro-structure  hang like a hair net  onto the "main" infinite network... it will still contribute to may physical properties as it is a real mass present. 

When you look to DMTA? You will put a vibrating stress on the network... as it is not a part of the main network its contribution (dangling to it) will be different from the XLD as if it was a part of the infinite network.

Make contact with/ look up the people (or literature) that do Monte Carlo simulations on networks, maybe that will help you in getting more knowledge on various forms of networks. That might be very interesting on effects you would like to study/mimic.

Indeed interesting questions.

For your 2nd question: it is a matter what you like study. If a micro-structure  hang like a hair net  onto the "main" infinite network... it will still contribute to may physical properties as it is a real mass present. 

When you look to DMTA? You will put a vibrating stress on the network... as it is not a part of the main network its contribution (dangling to it) will be different from the XLD as if it was a part of the infinite network.

Make contact with/ look up the people (or literature) that do Monte Carlo simulations on networks, maybe that will help you in getting more knowledge on various forms of networks. That might be very interesting on effects you would like to study/mimic.

Indeed interesting questions.

For your 2nd question: it is a matter what you like study. If a micro-structure  hang like a hair net  onto the "main" infinite network... it will still contribute to may physical properties as it is a real mass present. 

When you look to DMTA? You will put a vibrating stress on the network... as it is not a part of the main network its contribution (dangling to it) will be different from the XLD as if it was a part of the infinite network.

Make contact with/ look up the people (or literature) that do Monte Carlo simulations on networks, maybe that will help you in getting more knowledge on various forms of networks. That might be very interesting on effects you would like to study/mimic.

Thank you for your kind replies. I considered your suggestions and read the articles you advised me. 

Indeed there are several ways to define the dangling chains. I went with the simplest one. I consider that the largest molecule in the structure is the "gel fraction", all other molecules make part of the "sol fraction".  So the dangling chains are defined as all the molecules and sub-structures attached to the largest molecule only by one end.