Vulcanized PDMS/silica systems

Figure 6.10 shows typical dynamic properties of vulcanized PDMS-silica systems, as investigated through strain sweep experiments at constant frequency and temperature. As can be seen, dynamic strain softening is observed in a qualitatively similar manner to other filled polymers. It follows that models, which successfully fit conventional filled rubbers (e.g., carbon black filled compounds), are expected to well suit such data. This is indeed the case, as shown by the curves in Figure 6.10, drawn by fitting the Kraus-Ulmer equations, i.e.. 

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