Elastomers
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Elastomers
Composition of elastomers
Elastomers are incompressible, cross-linked polymer materials that solidify like glass below their glass transition temperature, which is usually well below 0 °C, do not flow viscously even at high temperatures and are elastically deformable in the range between their glass transition temperature and decomposition temperature. Elastomer materials basically consist of the polymer (rubber) or a polymer blend (blend of different rubbers, e.g. natural rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber), various additives and fillers or reinforcing materials.
The property profile – Rubber elasticity
A key property of elastomers is rubber elasticity (entropy elasticity), which is due to the wide-meshed, irreversible cross-linking of the rubber molecules that occurs during vulcanization. Compared to semi-crystalline plastics, elastomer materials have low modulus values in terms of application technology, can be strongly deformed with relatively low forces and largely return to their original shape after being relieved. The composition of a rubber compound largely determines the properties of the resulting elastomer material after vulcanization. The chemical properties (e.g. durability elastomers) are largely determined by the polymer type. The mechanical properties depend very much on the quantity and type of filler or reinforcing material. Furthermore, the quantity and the selected crosslinking system also determine both the mechanical properties and, for example, the temperature resistance.
Production of elastomeric materials
Various steps are required to produce an elastomer material:
- Formulation
- Compounding
- Vulcanization
All of these individual steps require careful consideration so that an optimum result is achieved for the specific application.
Application behaviour of elastomeric materials
Elastomer materials are not only exposed to mechanical stresses during the use of the moulded parts or components made from them (tires, dampers, seals, conveyor belts, etc.), but also to a wide variety of environmental influences such as moisture, high or low temperatures, radiation or the influence of chemical substances, whereby combinations of these factors often occur. This can lead to a change in properties, which can be summarized under the term “ageing”. The ageing of elastomers can be characterized as part of resistance tests.
See also
- Cross-linking elastomers
- Degree of cross-linking elastomers
- Macrodispersion degree elastomers
- Abrasion elastomers
- Fatigue crack propagation elastomers
- Elastomer dispersion filler
- Crack resistance curve – Elastomers quasistatic
- SHORE hardness – Material development elastomers
- Durability elastomers
References
- Schnetger, J.: Lexikon der Kautschuktechnik. 4th Edition, Hüthig Buch Verlag, Heidelberg (2004) (ISBN 978-3-7785-3022-1; see AMK-Library under K 7)
- Röthemeyer, F., Sommer, F.: Kautschuktechnologie: Werkstoffe–Verarbeitung–Produkte, 3rd, newly revised Edition. Carl Hanser, Munich (2013), (ISBN 978-3-446-43776-0)
- Dick, J. S.: How to Improve Rubber Compounds. Carl Hanser, Munich (2014), (ISBN 978-1-56990-533-3; see AMK-Library under K 10)
- Abts, G.: Einführung in die Kautschuktechnologie. Carl Hanser, Munich (2007), (ISBN 978-3-446-40940-8)