experimental investigation of fracture by cavitation of model elastomeric networks

A new methodology to investigate the failure of elastomers in a confined geometry has been developed and applied to model end-linked polyurethane elastomers. The experimental in situ observations show that the elastomers fail by the growth of a single cavity nucleated in the region of maximum hydros...

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Published inJournal of polymer science. Part B, Polymer physics Vol. 48; no. 13; pp. 1409 - 1422
Main Authors Cristiano, Antonella, Marcellan, Alba, Long, Rong, Hui, Chung-Yuen, Stolk, Jan, Creton, Costantino
Format Journal Article Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01.07.2010
Wiley
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Summary:A new methodology to investigate the failure of elastomers in a confined geometry has been developed and applied to model end-linked polyurethane elastomers. The experimental in situ observations show that the elastomers fail by the growth of a single cavity nucleated in the region of maximum hydrostatic stress. Tests carried out at different temperatures for the same elastomer show that the critical stress at which this crack grows is not proportional to the Young's modulus E but depends mainly on the ratio between the mode I fracture energy GIC and E. A reasonable fit of the data can be obtained with a model of cavity expansion by irreversible fracture calculating the energy release rate by finite elements with a strain hardening constitutive equation. Comparison between different elastomers shows that the material containing both entanglements and crosslinks is both tougher in mode I and more resistant to cavitation relative to its elastic modulus.
Bibliography:http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/polb.22026
ArticleID:POLB22026
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ISSN:0887-6266
1099-0488
1099-0488
DOI:10.1002/polb.22026