Dynamic-Mechanical Characteristics of Rubber Compounds

Since rubber articles are often exposed in service to small periodic deformations, great interest attaches to the dynamic-mechanical characteristics of rubber. It has been established that the conditions under which these characteristics are determined have a pronounced influence on the results obtained, so that the measurements must be undertaken under precisely specified conditions. A new test apparatus is described for measuring the dynamic-mechanical characteristics, with which measurements can be performed at any desired stress setting, frequency, temperature, and amplitude on the same samples, both for compression and for shear loading. The incompressibility of filler-free natural-rubber compounds has been demonstrated by measurements made on samples with different shape factors and with varied static initial stress, under compression and with shear loading. The temperature, frequency, and amplitude dependence of the dynamic-mechanical characteristics of different rubber compounds is discussed on the basis of a number of measurements. The maximum value of the loss factor, which occurs in the vicinity of the second-order transition point, appears at a higher temperature in GR-S (cold rubber), Vulkollan, and Butyl rubber than in natural rubber. There is a connection between this fact and the much greater frequency and temperature dependence of Butyl rubber compared to natural rubber in the vicinity of room temperature. A compound based on natural rubber and a styrene-butadiene (85/15) co-polymer shows two maxima in the loss factor. One of these is characteristic of natural rubber, the other of the polymer. The dynamic characteristics of filler-free rubber compounds are not very sensitive to amplitude. It is found that the marked amplitude dependence of reinforced rubber compounds cannot be accounted for by increased temperature or by any nonlinearity of the stress-strain curve. The influence of composition on the dynamic-mechanical characteristics of natural rubber has been tested for a number of compounds. It is established that the carbon black types can have a significant effect on the E′ modulus. At small amplitudes the magnitude is greater for a compound containing SAF or EPC carbon black than for one containing HAF carbon black. Natural rubber reinforced with Aerosil or aniline resin shows a small loss factor, while compounds vulcanized with Thiuram show a large one. The present study is part of a fundamental investigation on rubber carried out by the Research Division of the Rubber-Stichting in Delft under the direction of H. C. J. de Decker.