Elastomers, defined

In an electroelastic boundary-value problem (BVP), the stress state at a point of die dielectric depends on the mechanical and the electrostatic variables. Similarly to die elastic problem, we can think of a trae stress o,y which is in equilibrium with the external (volume and surfece) mechanical forces that are appUed to the elastomer (Dorfinann and Ogden 2005 McMeeking and Landis 2005 Suo et al. 2008). This quantity is often referred to as the total (true) stress to which a total nominal stress can be associated employing again Eq. 1. The adjective total refers to the properties for which the two stresses eontain both mechanical and electrical information (often in a coupled way) at each point of the deformed elastomer, defined via constitutive equations. 

The previous chapters have provided an insight into various specialty elastomers, defined herein as heat- and oil-resistant polymers. In addition, other key ingredients used with these rubbers are described and their usage in these polymers is covered. 

It is necessary to establish some conventions concerning signs before proceeding further. When the applied force is a tensile force and the distortion is one of stretching, F, dL, and dw are all defined to be positive quantities. Thus dw is positive when elastic work is done on the system. The work done by the sample when the elastomer snaps back to its original size is a negative quantity. 

Chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene), [126-99-8] was first obtained as a by-product from tbe synthesis of divinylacetylene (1). Wben a mbbery polymer was found to form spontaneously, investigations were begun tbat prompdy defined tbe two methods of synthesis that have since been the basis of commercial production (2), and the first successbil synthetic elastomer. Neoprene, or DuPrene as it was first called, was introduced in 1932. Production of chloroprene today is completely dependent on the production of the polymer. The only other use accounting for significant volume is the synthesis of 2,3-dichloro-l,3-butadiene, which is used as a monomer in selected copolymerizations with chloroprene. 

Commercial Forms. Eour different base polymers of VAMAC ethylene—acryhc elastomer are commercially available (Table 1). Until 1990, existing grades of ethylene—acryhc elastomers were based on a single-gum polymer. VAMAC G, defined as a terpolymer of 55% methyl acrylate, ethylene, and a cure-site monomer (5). In 1991, a higher methyl acrylate terpolymer, VAMAC LS, was introduced. The composition of this polymer was specifically chosen because it significantly increases the oil resistance of the polymer while minimizing losses in low temperature fiexibihty (6). 

On the bad side, many of the elastomeric types are highly nonlinear in their characteristics. The elastomeric compression-type couplings are very soft at small wind-ups under low loads, but once the elastomer has filled the available squeeze space, the coupling is effectively rigid. This makes prediction of system response difficult unless the load and coupling characteristics are well defined prior to installation. 

Subsequently, much improved thermoplastic polyolefin rubbers were obtained by invoking a technique known as dynamic vulcanisation. This process has been defined (Coran, 1987) as the process of vulcanizing elastomer during its intimate melt-mixing with a non-vulcanizing thermoplastic polymer. Small elastomer droplets are vulcanized to give a particulate... 

Various materials (e.g., metal, plastics, or rubber) are used to make the flexing elements in these couplings. The use of the couplings is governed by the operational fatigue limits of these materials. Practically all metals have fatigue limits that are predictable, therefore, they permit definite boundaries of operation to be established. Elastomers such as plastic or rubber, however, usually do not have a well-defined fatigue limit. Their service life is determined primarily by conditions of installation and operation. 

The wide choice available in plastics makes it necessary to select not only between TPs, TSs, reinforced plastics (RPs), and elastomers, but also between individual materials within each family of plastic types (Chapters 6 and 7). This selection requires having data suitable for making comparisons which, apart from the availability of data, depends on defining and recognizing the relevant plastics behavior characteristics. There can be, for instance, isotropic (homogeneous) plastics and plastics that can have different directional properties that run from the isotropic to anisotropic. Here, as an example, certain... 

International plastics selector , 9th edition, Int. Plastics Selector, San Diego, CA (1987). Thermoplastics, thermosets, elastomers, and key property areas critical to plastics are extensively specification defined. 

Block copolymers containing polysiloxane segments are of great interest as polymeric surfactants and elastomers. Polycondensation and polyaddition reactions of functionally ended prepolymers are usually employed to prepare well-defined block copolymers. The living polystyrene anion reacts with a,co-dichloropoly(dimethyl-siloxane) to form multiblock copolymers398. ... 

The synthesis of well defined block copolymers exhibiting controlled molecular weight, low compositional heterogeneity and narrow molecular weight distribution is a major success of anionic polymerization techniques 6,7,14-111,112,113). Blocks of unlike chemical nature have a general tendency to undergo microphase separation, thereby producing mesomorphic phases. Block copolymers therefore exhibit unique properties, that prompted numerous studies and applications (e.g. thermoplastic elastomers). 

PU elastomers contain alternative soft and hard segments, which separate into different phases. Hard domains play a role of cross-links, whereas soft blocks provide extensibility. Therefore, morphology and properties of PU are defined by relative amount of soft and hard segments. For example, at 70% concentration of soft segments, the material is described as a mbbery matrix with... 

The all-important difference between the friction properties of elastomers and hard solids is its strong dependence on temperature and speed, demonstrating that these materials are not only elastic, but also have a strong viscous component. Both these aspects are important to achieve a high friction capability. The most obvious effect is that temperature and speed are related through the so-called WLF transformation. For simple systems with a well-defined glass transition temperature the transform is obeyed very accurately. Even for complex polymer blends the transform dominates the behavior deviations are quite small. 

Compression set and durometer hardness are also important mechanical properties. Compression set is defined as the amount by which an elastomer fails to return to its original thickness after being subjected to a standard compressive load or deflection for a specified time at a specified temperature. A low percent compression set typifies a more compression resistant elastomeric formulation. Compression set of a closure on a sealed vial is a factor in maintaining the sterility and potency of the drug itself. 

Durometer hardness is defined as the measure of resistance to indentation using either a macro- or microhardness tester. To the pharmaceutical drug manufacturer, hardness is important because of its relationship to ultimate mechanical properties— particularly modulus. In general, softer compounds of the same elastomer base have better coring and reseal properties, whereas harder compounds tend to process better on high-speed filling lines. 

Elastomers are defined as polymers that can be repeatedly stretched to 200% elastic elongation and will return to their original length when released. They can... 

Sequential addition of different monomer charges to a living anionic polymerization system is useful for producing well-defined block copolymers. Thermoplastic elastomers of the triblock type are the most important commercial application. For example, a styrene-isoprene-styrene triblock copolymer is synthesized by the sequence... 

The potential energy V of the elastomer is presumed to be given as a function of the atomic coordinates x (lwell-defined equilibrium shape, there must be equilibrium positions x for all atoms that are part of the continuous network. Expand the potential in a Taylor series about the equilibrium positions, and set the potential to zero at equilibrium, to obtain... 

The first SANS experiments on end-linked elastomers with a well-defined functionality were carried out by Hinkley et al, (22). Hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene was crosslinked by a trifunctional isocyanate, and the resultant polymer was uniaxially stretched. 

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