First, stock solutions of 3 and 5 with different polymer volume factions (ϕ = 0.06, 0.18, 0.30) were prepared. The ϕ values correspond roughly to 1, 3, and 5 times the overlap concentration c* (70 mg mL -1 ), which appears as last part of the sample name (e.g. CN1-1, CN1-3, CN1-5 are synthesized at 1c*, 3c*, 5c*, respectively). For the synthesis, aliquots of the stock solutions were poured together at a certain temperature and allowed to react. After reaching the gel point (visual detection), the temperature was raised to the final reaction temperature until cross-linking was completed. To ensure equivalence of the reactive groups, 1 H NMR spectra of mixtures of the stock solutions were recorded. Based on the intensities of the end group signals, concentration differences of the reactive groups could be compensated by post-dosing of the deficiency component.