TENSILE STRENGTH OF RUBBERS.

Abstract

A current theory of the tensile strength of rubbers invokes large scale crosslink interchange at room temperature to explain the high tensile strengths of networks crosslinked with weak linkages. This mechanical lability of certain crosslinks has been assumed from their known thermal lability at higher temperatures. Relaxation of stress experiments at various elongations were performed at room temperature on networks crosslinked with both weak and strong linkages. The purpose was to detect mechanically-induced crosslink slippage. No evidence was found of any mechanical lability of weak crosslinks at room temperature. A hypothesis is presented which explains the high tensile strengths of rubbers crosslinked with weak linkages as resulting from an internally relaxed network formed by the thermal lability of the crosslinks at the vulcanization temperature. This theory is shown to be consistent with some previously unexplained experimental results. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0659065

Entities

People

  • Arthur V. Tobolsky
  • P. F. Lyons

Organizations

  • Princeton University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Chemical Reactions
  • Curing
  • Elongation
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Physical Properties
  • Shape
  • Tensile Strength
  • Vulcanization

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.
  • Theoretical Analysis.