6/13/2015

PhysicalPropertiesofRubber

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PhysicalPropertiesofRubber

WrittenbyDaleT.McGrosky

InthisarticlewewilldescribethephysicalpropertiesofrubberthatyouwillseeonPhysicalPropertyDataSheets
forelastomersthataretestedtoASTMD2000specifications.Ihavedescribedwhatthepropertyis,whyitis
important,andhowyoutestit.Therearemanymorephysicalpropertiesofrubberthanwhataredescribedhere,
but,wewilllimitthemtothemostcommonphysicalpropertiesyouwillseeintheASTMD2000standard.

Ihavebrokenthisarticleinto2parts.FirstpartwillcoverHardness,UltimateTensileStrength,Elongation,Tensile
Set,Young'sModulusandYieldStrength.Theresultsoftheseproperties,exceptHardnessandTensileSet,are
foundonthestressstraincurvethatisgeneratedduringaUltimateTensileStrengthtest.Part2willcoverTear
Resistance,CompressionSet,OzoneResistance,FluidResistance,LowTemperatureResistance,Abrasion
Resistance.

Forces

Figure1TypesofForces
Letstakeaquicklookatsomeforcesbeforewegetstartedonexplainingproperties.Theseforceswillbeappliedto
thespecimenduringtesting.Beingfamiliarwiththesewillalsogiveyouandunderstandingoftheforcesthatmay
beappliedtotherubberpartswhileinyourapplication.
Letstakearectangularblockofrubberasaspecimen.Ifyousqueezethesmallsidestogetherthisiscompressive
force.Ifyoustretchtheblock,thisistensionortensileforce.Ifyoutwisttheblockthisistorsionalforceandifyou
applyanopposingforcetothesideontopandoppositesideonbottom,thisisshearforce.Someoftheseforceswill
beappliedtothespecimenduringtesting.
Hardness

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Hardnessisthemeasureofhowresistantsolidmaterialiswhenaforceisapplied.Thereare3maintypeof
hardnessmeasurements,scratch,indentationandrebound.Wewillonlybetalkingabouttheindentationhardness
forelastomers.Indentationhardnessisthematerialsresistancetoindentationbyanindentor.
Rubberismadeindifferenthardness'forseveralreasons.Somesealingsurfacesmaynotbetotallysmooth.The
littlevoids,pitsandscratchesallowapathwayforfluidorairtoescapethrough.Softermaterialstendtoflowbetter
intothesevoidsandimperfectionsonthesealingsurfacecreatingabetterseal.Ontheotherhand,harderrubbers
willnotdothisaswellbuttheydoresistextrusioncausebyhighpressures.Also,coefficientoffrictionisalso
affectedbythehardnessoftherubber.Softerrubberhasahighercoefficientoffrictionandharderrubberhasa
lowercoefficientoffriction.Coefficientoffrictionplaysafactorwhentherubbersealissealingapartthatmoves.
MeasuringHardness

Thedurometergaugeisusedtotestthehardnessofelastomers.The3mostcommondurometergaugesusedto
measurerubberareTypeA,TypeMandTypeD.TypeAisusedtotestsoftrubbermaterialswhileTypeDisused
totesthardrubberandplasticmaterials.TypeM,alsoforsoftmaterials,wasdevelopedtotestsmallspecimens,
typicallyOrings,thatdonotmeetthephysicalsizerequirementsspecifiedinASTMD2240.Isisimportantto
knowthatalthougheachofthehardnessscalesaregraduatedfrom1100,thesescalesarenotthesame.90ShoreA
isnotthesameas90ShoreDor90ShoreM.Apieceofrubbermeasuring90onaShoreAgaugewillreadaround
4243onaShoreDgauge.

Figure2StressStraincurveshowingUltimateTensileStrength,UltimateElongationandModulus
@100%Elongation

TensileStrength

Ultimatetensilestrength,orjusttensilestrength,isthemaximumforceamaterialcanwithstandwithoutfracturing
whenstretched.Itistheoppositeofcompressivestrength.Haveyoueverpurchasedapairofshoesandtheycame
joinedtogetherwithapieceofstring?Insteadofgettingapairofscissors,didyouoptedtotestyourphysical
strengthagainstthetensilestrengthofthestringandtrytobreakitbypullingonit?Ifthestringhasalowtensile
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strengthyoushouldbeabletopullandbreakthestringeasily.Youcanapplymoretensionalforcethanthestring
canwithstand.Ifithasahightensilestrengthitwillbemuchhardertobreakbypulling.Areyoustartingto
understandwhattensilestrengthis?
Tensilestrengthisanindicationofhowstrongacompoundis.Anytimeyouhaveanapplicationwhereyouare
pullingonthepart,tensilestrengthisimportanttoknow.Whetheryourproductisdesignedtobreakeasilyornotat
allthetensilestrengthwillletyouknowhowtheobjectwillreacttothetensionalforces.Afewrubberproducts
thattensilestrengthareimportantwouldbebungeecords,rubbertiedowns,drivebelts.Someelastomeric
compounds,likeSilicone,havealowtensilestrengthmakingthemunsuitableforadynamictypesofsealbecause
theycanfractureeasily.

MeasuringTensileStrength

Tensilestrengthismeasuredwithatensometer.Atensometerisspecialmachinethatisdesignedtoapplya
tensionalorcompressiveforcetoaspecimen,inourcaseadiecutdumbbellshape,andmeasurehowmuchforceit
takestodeformandfracturethespecimen.Theforceistypicallydisplayedonastressstraincurvethatshowshow
muchforcewasrequiredtostretchthespecimentodeformationandultimatelybreak.

Elongation

Maximumelongation,withrespecttotensiletesting,isthemeasureofhowmuchaspecimenstretchesbeforeit
breaks.Elongationisusuallyexpressedasapercentage.IhadanapplicationwhereaverysmallOringwithan
insidediameterof.056incheshadtostretchoverarodwithadiameterof.170inches.ANitrileOringworkedfine
sinceit'sultimateelongationwaswellover400%andtheOringwasabletowithstandthe200%stretchduring
installation.ButwhenwetriedtouseafluorocarboncompoundseveraloftheOringswerebreakingduring
installation.Thisfluorocarboncompoundhadanultimateelongationof150%andcouldnotwithstandbeing
stretchedtoover200%duringtheinstallationandtheoringwouldbreak.

MeasuringElongation

Elongationismeasuredwitharuleroranextensometer.Anextensometerisanelectronicrulerthatisattachedto
thetensometerandwillmeasuretheextensionofthespecimenwhiletorsionalforceisbeingapplied.Anotherway
ofmeasuringelongationiswitharegularruler.Tomeasuretheelongationwitharuler,maketwobenchmarks1
inchapartonthespecimen.ThisistheInitialGageLength(Lo)andthenmeasurethedistancebetweenthemarks
justbeforethespecimenbreaks.ThisistheFinalGageLength(Lx).Calculatetheelongationwiththefollowing
equation:elongation%=100(LxLo)/Lo.

TensileSet

Whileweareusingbenchmarks,letquicklytalkaboutTensileSet.TensileSetistheextensionremainingaftera
specimenhasbeenstretchedandallowedtorelaxforapredefinedperiodoftime.TensileSetisexpressedasa
percentageoftheoriginallength.Tensilesetresultsarenotfoundonthestressstraincurve.It'sameasurementthat
canbeperformedafterthetensilestrengthtest.DonotmistakeTensileSetwithElasticity.Elasticityisthe
mechanicalpropertyofamaterialtoreturntoitsoriginalshapewhereTensileSetistheamountonextension
remainingafterbeingstretched.
ArubberbandwouldhavealowTensileSetpercentage.Afterstretcheditrelaxescloseto,ifnotexactlyto,its
originallength.NowtakeapieceofTeflonandstretchit.Itdoesnotreturntoitsoriginallengthanditstaysinits
stretchedstate.ThiswouldhaveahighTensileSetpercentage.
OnetestweperforminourQ.C.inspectionistopullontheOringandseehowfastandhowcloseitreturnstoits
originaldiameter.TheOringshouldfairlyquicklyreturnclosetoitsoriginaldiameter.Oftentimesasealhastobe
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stretchedduringinstallationandthelastthingyouwanttohappenistheOringstaystretchedandnotfitwhich
couldcauseproblemsduringassembly.

MeasuringTensileSet

Rememberthe2benchmarks1inchapartonthespecimenintheelongationtest?TodetermineTensileSetafter
break,wait10minutesafterthespecimenbreaksandthenfitthetwohalvesofthespecimenbacktogethersothere
isgoodcontactalongthefulllengthofthebreak.Measurethedistancebetweenthebenchmarks.Usethesame
equationusedintheelongationtestexcepttheFinalGageLength(Lx)isthefinalmeasureddistancebetweenthe
benchmarks.Anotherwaytotestwithoutbreakingistostretchthespecimentoaspecifiedelongationandholdfor
10minutes.Releasethespecimenasquicklyaspossible,makingsurenottoallowittosnapback,andletsitfor10
minutes.Measurethedistancebetweenthebenchmarks.Again,usethesameequationusedintheelongationtest
excepttheFinalGageLength(Lx)isthefinalmeasureddistancebetweenthebenchmarks.

Figure3Thesteepslopewouldindicatethismaterialis Figure4Theshallowgentleslopeshownonthiscurve
thetougherofthetwomaterialcurvesshown.
wouldindicatethismaterialisnotverytough.

Young'sModulus

Young'sModulusisalsoknownasTensileModulus,ElasticModulusandModulusofElasticity(Measureof
Elasticity).It'sthemeasureofthestiffnessofthematerial.Youwillseethisonaphysicalpropertydatasheet
writtensomethinglikeModulus@100%Elongation.
WhenperformingaTensileStrengthtestaplotismadeofthestressvs.strainoramountofforcerequiredtostretch
(deform)thespecimengivenlength.Thisplotiscalledastressstraincurve.ThepeakofthecurveistheTensile
StrengthandtheYoung'sModulusistheslopeofthestressstraincurve.Ifyouhaveasteepcurvethespecimen
resistsdeformation(it'stougher)andaiftheslopeisgentlethematerialwilldeformeasily.Atanygivenpointon
thestressstraincurvewecanreadtheTangentModulus.Modulus@100%Elongationsayswewanttoknowthe
amountofforcerequiredtostretch(elongate)thespecimen100%.WecanalsoaskforModulus@200%orany
givenpointonthestressstraincurve.
Knowinghoweasilyamaterialdeformsunderstraincanbeimportantinsomeapplications.Anengineerwas
installingarubbersealonadoor.Therubberheusedhadhighmodulus.Thedoorwashardtoclosebecausethe
rubberresistedbeingdeformed.Hethenusedacompoundwithlowmodulusthatdeformedeasilyallowingthe
doortocloseeasily.

MeasuringYoung'sModulus

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Young'sModulusismeasuredduringaTensileStrengthtest.Asstatedabove,whenperformingaTensileStrength
testastressstraincurveisplotted.TheslopeofthiscurveistheYoung'sModulusandanypointonthatcurveisa
TangentModulus.

Figure5Young'sModulus(LinearElasticRegion)andYieldPoint(Strength)

YieldPoint

YieldPointistheforceatwhichthespecimenstartstodeformpermanently.ItisdifficulttopointtotheexactYield
Pointonthecurvebecausethetransitionisgradual,soa2%offset(0.2%formetals)fromtheLinearElasticRegion
isusedtoindicatetheOffsetYieldStrength.AlthoughYieldStrengthismeanttoshowtheexactpointwherethe
specimenbecomespermanentlydeformed,a2%offsetisanacceptablesacrificebecauseofhowmucheasierit
makesittodetermineyieldstrength.
JustpriortotheYieldPointistheLinearElasticRegion.TheslopeofthelineinthisregioniscalledYoung's
Modulus.Thisistheareawhichthespecimenretainsitselasticity.Whentheforceisremovedinthisareathe
specimenwillreturntoitsoriginalshape.Afterthisareathespecimentransitionsfromelastictoplasticbehavior.
ThismeansthataftertheYieldPoint,permanentdeformationoccursinthespecimenanditwillnolongerreturnto
itsoriginalshape.HereiswhereIamgoingtothrowacurveatyou.Inmostelastomerstressstraincurvesyouwill
notseeadefiniteyieldpointorplasticregion.Theelastomerspecimenwillremaininthelinearelasticregion
throughoutmostofthecurveasshowninthefigures3and4exceptUrethanecompoundsshowninfigure5.

TosummarizetheabovepropertiesletstakealookatthestressstraincurvethatisgeneratedduringtheTensile
Strengthtest,seefigures2and5.
UltimateTensileStrengthTheamountoftensionalforcerequiredtofractureaspecimen.
UltimateElongationtheamountaspecimendeformsbystretching.
Young'sModulusTheslopeofthestressstraincurvethatisgeneratedduringatensilestrengthtest.
TangentModulusAnypointonthestressstraincurve.
YieldPointTheforceatwhichamaterialwillbegintodeformpermanently.
ThesePropertiesarenotseenonthestressstraincurve
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HardnessThemeasureofhowresistantsolidmaterialiswhenaforceisapplied.Thereare3maintypeof
hardnessmeasurements,scratch,indentationandrebound.
TensileSetAmeasurementshowingtheextensionremainingafteraspecimenhasbeenstretchedandallowedto
relaxforapredefinedperiodoftime.TensileSetisnotshowonthestressstraincurve.Isisameasurementthatcan
bedoneafteratensilestrengthtest.
So far we talked about properties where tension force was applied to the specimen. Some of these
properties were tensile strength, elongation, modulus, and yield point. Now lets talk about
compression set, compressiondeflection and tear resistance, where compressive and sheer forces are
applied, as well as weathering, ozone and low temperature resistance. Lets get started with
compression set.
CompressionSet
Thepurposeofthecompressionsettestistomeasuretheabilityoftherubberspecimentoretainitselastic
propertiesaftercompressiveforceshavebeenappliedforaprolongedperiodoftimeatelevatedtemperatures.
Compressionsetresultscanbeusefultoknowwhenrubberseals,mountsordampenersaresubjecttocompressive
forcesintheapplication.Thisisparticularlyimportantwhenthesealisinaprolongedcompressedstateandeven
moresowhensimultaneouslybeingexposedtoelevatedtemperatures.WhenanOringissqueezedtherubberhas
elasticity.Itwantstogobacktoitsoriginalshape.ThiselasticityishowtheOringsseals,especiallyunderlowor
nopressure.WhenpressureisappliedtothesystemtheOringsealpushesagainstthegroovewalloppositethe
directionofthepressure,forcingittoexpandperpendiculartothedirectionitisbeingsqueezed.Thisexpansion
providesadditionalsealingcapability.
WhenanOringissqueezedandsubjectedtoexcessiveheatitcanloosesomeorallofitselasticityandtakea
permanentset.Then,whenyoupulltheoringoutitnolongerhasaniceroundcrosssectionbutinsteadhasflat
spotswereitwassqueezedintheapplication.ThispermanentsetwillreducethesealingabilityoftheOring.The
compressionsettestisagreatwaytoseehowthecompoundwillreacttocompressiveforceswhilesubjectedto
heat.Also,poorcompressionsetalongwithpoortensilestrengthcanbeanindicationofthestateofcureofthe
specimen.Ifyoudon'tcurethecompoundenoughthesepropertieswilldiminish.
HowtoTestCompressionSet
Thespecimen,usuallyamoldedrubberdisk,issqueezedbetweentwometalplatestoabout75%ofitsoriginal
thicknessandthenplacedinanovenatelevatedtemperaturesforaperiodoftime.Afterthespecimencomesoutof
theovenandisallowedtocool,measurementscanbetakenandthepercentageoforiginaldeflectioniscalculated.
Theoriginaldeflectionistheamountyoucompressedthespecimeninthefixture.Ifyouhavea1inchthick
specimenandcompressitto0.750thickness,theoriginaldeflectionis0.250.Nowletssaythe1inchthick
samplemeasured0.875thickafterthetest.Ittooka0.125set.0.125is50%oftheoriginaldeflectionof0.250or
acompressionsetof50%.Thehigherthepercentagethepoorertheresults.
YoumayseeMethodAorMethodB.MethodAiscompressionsetunderaconstantforceandMethodBis
compressionsetunderconstantdeflection.MethodBistheprimarymethodusedthroughouttheASTMD2000
specification.
CompressionDeflection
Thepurposeofthecompressiondeflectiontestistocomparethestiffnessoftherubbermaterialsundera
compressiveforce.Thistestcantellyouhowmuchapartwilldeflectunderagivenloador,alternatively,how
muchloaditwilltaketodeflectapartagivendistance.Rubbermountsanddampenersaresomeexamplesofparts
thataresubjecttocompressiveforcesandknowingtherelationshipbetweencompressiveforcesanddeflectioncan
beimportant.
HowtoTestCompressionDeflection
CompressionDeflectionismeasuredonacompressiontestingmachineorcanbemeasuredonanyothertypeof
machinethatcanapplyameasurableforcetoaspecimenatagivenrateandbeabletomeasurethedeflectionto
onethousandthsofaninch.AtSatoriSealourtensometercanapplycompressiveforceatthespecifiedrateandalso
measurethedeflection.Thetestisperformedbycompressingthespecimentoaspecifiedcompressiveforceand
measuringthedeflectionresultsorcompressingtoaspecifieddeflectionandmeasuringthecompressionforce
results.
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TearResistance
Thetearingofrubberisamechanicalruptureprocessstartedwhereforcesareconcentratedinanareausually
causedbyacut,defectordeformation.
HowtoTestTearResistance
Tearresistanceistestedonatensometerinthesamemannerasthetensilestrengthtestexceptthespecimenisone
of5specificshapes:TypeA,B,C,TorCP.Agraphisproducedinthesamemannerasthestressstraincurve
excepttheTearStrengthgraphisforceoverjawseparationlength.Tearstrengthiscalculatedbytakingthe
maximumforcedividedbythemedianthicknessofthespecimen(Ts=F/d).
TypeACrescentshapedspecimenwithanickorcut
TypeBTabEndspecimenwithanickorcut
TypeCRightAnglespecimenwithanickorcut
TypeT(Trouser)Moldedblock,150X15X2mm,witha40mmcut
TypeCP(Constrainedpath)Moldedspecimen125X28.5X5.33mm.Thisisaspecialmoldedshapewithfabric
reinforcementmoldedinthemidplaneofthesample.Thespecimenhasanarrowsgroovedownthelengthinthe
center.
OzoneResistance
Ozone(O3),resistanceisusedtotesttherelativeabilityoftherubbercompoundtoresistoutdoorweatheringor
ozonechambertesting.Someapplicationslikedoorandwindowtrimwouldbesubjecttoweatheringsotesting
wouldgiveanestimationofhowtherubbercompoundwillreacttoweathering.Othersourcesofozoneexposure
includeairpurifiersandozonegeneratorsusedtopurify,deodorize,disinfectandkillbacteriainjustabout
everythingfromairtofood.
HowtoTestWeathering/OzoneResistance
ASTMMethodD1171addresseshowtotestweatheringandozoneresistance.InD1171,rectangularcrosssection
samplesarewrappedaroundawoodenmandrelandleftinthesunorplacedinanozonechamber.Afteraperiodof
timeeithermethodAormethodBisusedtogradethesamples.InmethodAnocrackingispermittedunder2X
magnificationandinmethodB,threesamplesarecheckedandgradeddependingontheseverityofcrackingand
givenaqualityretentionvalue(expressedasapercentage)derivedfromTable1inASTMD1171.
ASTMMethodD1149isusedtotesttheeffectsofspecificlevelsofozoneconcentrationonspecimensthatare
underdynamicorstaticsurfacestrainconditions.
LowTemperatureResistance
Therearetwolowtemperatureteststhatareusedintestinglowtemperaturepropertiesofelastomers,ASTM
D2137,LowTemperatureBrittleness,andASTMD1379,TR10/TR70TemperatureRetractiontest.Low
TemperatureBrittlenessisthemostcommonlowtemperaturetestyouwillseeonaphysicalpropertiesdatasheet.
Thetemperatureretractiontestisnotascommonbutwillgiveyoumoreaccuratecontinuousoperatinglow
temperatureresultsandabetterindicationoftheviscoelasticandcrystallizationeffectsatlowtemperature.
ASTMD2137LowTemperatureBrittleness
TheLowTemperatureBrittlenesstestisusetodeterminethelowesttemperatureatwhicharubberspecimenwill
notexhibitfracturesorcrackswhensubjecttoaspecificimpactcondition.Therearetwotestsmethods,AandB.
TestMethodAisforrubbervolcanizatesandTestMethodBisforrubbercoatedfabrics.Thistestisusefulfor
developmentpurposesbutmaynotnecessarilyindicatethelowesttemperatureatwhichthecompoundwilloperate.
TheTR10/TR70TemperatureRetractionTestismoreeffectiveindeterminingthelowesttemperatureatwhicha
compoundwillcontinuetooperate.
HowtoTestLowTemperatureBrittleness
Specimensarecutfromadieandplacedintoafixture.Thespecimensareimmersedintoaliquidbathatthe
specifiedtesttemperatureforadeterminedlengthoftime.Afterimmersiondeliverasingleimpacttothespecimen
andnoteanycracks,fissuresorholesvisibletothenakedeye.Repeatthetestatthenexthighesttemperature
(usually10Cincrements)untilthespecimenpasseswithnocracks,fissuresorholes.
ASTMD1379TR10/TR70TemperatureRetraction
TheTR10/TR70TemperatureRetractiontestisusedtoevaluatethecrystallizationeffectsandviscoelastic
propertiesoftherubberspecimenatlowtemperature.Thistestwillgiveyouabetterindicationofcompounds
lowesttemperatureatwhichitwillcontinuouslyoperate.
HowtoTestTR10/TR70TemperatureRetraction
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Thistestisperformedbystretchingadiecutspecimeninaspecialfixtureto250%elongationor50%ofthe
ultimateelongationif250%cannotbeobtained.Thestretchedspecimensareimmersedininaliquidat70Cfor
10minutesfreezingthesampletoastateofreducedelasticity.Now,afterreleasingthespecimens,slowlyraisethe
temperatureofthesamplesandmeasurethetemperatureandlengthofthespecimensat2minuteintervals.Report
thetemperatureatwhichthesampleretracted10%(TR10),30%(TR30),50%(TR50)and70%(TR70).
TheTR10valuecanbeusedtoindicatethelowtemperatureatwhichitwillcontinuouslyoperate,anditalso
correlateswiththebrittlepoint.ThegreaterthetemperaturedifferencebetweentheTR10andTR70thegreaterthe
tendencyoftherubbertocrystallize.TR70alsocorrelateswithlowtemperaturecompressionset.
Understandingthephysicalpropertiesofrubberwillhelpyoudeterminewhatpropertiesareimportanttoyour
application.
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