Effect of Temperature upon the Mechanical Properties of Rubber-like Materials

Abstract

IN the course of investigations into the mechanical properties of natural and synthetic rubber intended for use in anti-vibration devices, variations of a large order were encountered. As these variations seemed largely dependent upon temperature, a preliminary detailed examination in the region of 5–40° C. has been made. Using a mechanical vibrator somewhat similar to that employed by Gehman¹ and working at 20–60 c.p.s., measurements of dynamic elastic compression modulus and associated resilience were made by the well-known resonance method. A detailed description of the apparatus, method and results is to be published later; for the present it may be said that the test pieces were in the form of cylindrical rubber blocks $\frac{7}{8}$ in. in diameter and $\frac{7}{8}$ in. high, bonded at each end to steel screws by the conventional brass-plate method.