Cavity formation on elongation in filled elastomers

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Abstract
Experiments were conducted on samples of crosslinked rubbers filled with poly(tetrafluoroethylene) powder or small glass beads. Volume changes on elongation were measured in a dilatometer. Slow deformation cycles showed considerable hysteresis, the volume on elongation being smaller than on contraction. There is much less hysteresis if the sample is degassed before the experiment. These observations suggest that, to a large extent, the volume of the cavities is determined by the availability of gases dissolved in the elastomer matrix. When the samples were saturated with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium, it was indeed found that the degree of cavitation increased in order with the solubility of these gases.The initial rate of cavitation is high. After about 1 min, dilatation is proportional to the logarithm of time. This rate is inversely related to the solubility of the gas present.When a sample is subjected to a constant tensile stress under vacuum and the external pressure is suddenly brought to atmospheric, the elongation at first decreases due to compression of the cavities and then increases slowly as gas diffuses into them. Even unfilled compounds mixed mechanically contain submicroscopic holes. These enlarge on deformation thus causing dilatation. Only for samples prepared by evaporation from solution is there no pressure dependence of the apparent modulus.It is demonstrated that the relation between the volume of vacuum cavities and the external pressure resembles that of volume and inflation pressure of a spherical hole in an infinite elastic medium.

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