  This paper discusses the elastic behavior of polyelectrolyte networks. The
deformation behavior of single polyelectrolyte chains is discussed. It is shown
that a strong coupling between interactions and chain elasticity exists. The
theory of the complete crosslinked networks shows that the Flory - Rehner -
Hypothesis (FRH) does not hold. The modulus contains contributions from the
classical rubber elasticity and from the electrostatic interactions. The
equilibrium degree of swelling is estimated by the assumption of a
$c^{*}$-network.
