Micromechanics of Fracture in Elastomers

Abstract

A study of torn surfaces and of the tips of propagating tears in elastomers has been carried out using scanning electron microscopy. Vertical steps separating smooth featureless torn regions are characteristics features of the torn surfaces. They are found to be more frequency and larger in stronger elastomers. They are attributed to the intersection of secondary cracks at the tear tip, displace somewhat from the general tear plane, and nucleated by inherent stress-raisers. The effective diameter of the tear tip is therby increased. Stress-raising features are inferred to be present in elastomeric materials at a typical spacing of 10-100 micrometer. In carbon-black-filled elastomers, the carbon particles themselves are found to nucleate secondary cracks profusely.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 1984
Accession Number
ADA138783

Entities

People

  • Alan Neville Gent
  • C. T. Pulford

Organizations

  • University of Akron

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Alkenes
  • Amorphous Materials
  • Chemical Engineering
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Civil Engineering
  • Elastomers
  • Electron Microscopy
  • Engineering
  • Materials
  • Materials Science
  • Microscopy
  • Military Research
  • Rubber
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy
  • Synthetic Rubber

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • AI & ML
  • Microelectronics
  • Space