Reversibility of the Mullins effect for extending the life of rubber components

Corby, Matthew; De Focatiis, Davide S. A.

Abstract

This paper investigates the recovery of the Mullins effect by heat-treatment of predeformed (300% tensile strain) carbon-black filled ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) in an air-circulating oven. The tensile response was measured, and the secant modulus at 100% strain, energy to deform to 300% strain, ultimate tensile strength, strain to failure and permanent deformation were compared to undeformed specimens subjected to the same heat-treatments, 3–24 h at temperatures of 60–80°C. Recovery of properties is dependent on time and temperature of treatment, increasing with longer times and higher temperatures. Recovery of secant modulus follows time-temperature superposition (TTS) with an activation enthalpy of 111 kJ mol−1; TTS is shown to be applicable to the other measures, probably because of additional cure in the rubber resulting from the heat-treatment. Treatments under vacuum led to similar effects as in an air-circulating oven.

Citation

Corby, M., & De Focatiis, D. S. A. (2019). Reversibility of the Mullins effect for extending the life of rubber components. Plastics, Rubber and Composites, 48(1), 24-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/14658011.2018.1443384

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 16, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Mar 7, 2018
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2019
• Deposit Date: Dec 19, 2018
• Journal: Plastics, Rubber and Composites
• Print ISSN: 1465-8011
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-2898
• Publisher: Maney Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 24-31
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14658011.2018.1443384
• Keywords: Materials Chemistry; General Chemical Engineering; Polymers and Plastics; Ceramics and Composites
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1429144
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14658011.2018.1443384