The maximum elongation was always recognized at a temperature,
Tmax when the elongation at break was measured at various temperatures from -100° to 150°C. Taking the maximum elongation as the critical elongation, α
c, the critical elongation was found to relate linearly with the inverse of the square root of the cross-linking density, ν
-1/2, and with the square root of the molecular weight of the chain between cross-links,
Mc1/2, in the same cure system and the same polymer. The temperature,
Tmax, at which the maximum elongation was observed, was lowered linearly with the increase of the cross-linking density, ν. The gradient of the slope of
Tmax to ν changed by the cure system and the polymer. The glass temperature of these samples were heightened with the cross-linking density.
Thinking the molecular chain to be elongated enough at
Tmax, the number of the statistical segment was assumed from the inverse Langevin function and from the critical elongation using α
c=
n1/2. The number of the monomeric units in the chain was calculated from
Mc/
M, where M is the molecular weight of monomeric unit.
Comparing these results, it was concluded that i) the molecular chain of rubber was assumed to be broken down after enough elongation at
Tmax, ii) the number of the segment can be assumed from the critical elongation and from the stress-strain curve using the inverse Langevin function and iii) the value of α
c/(
Mc/
M)
1/2 may be taken as an index of the stiffness of the chain.
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