When a rectangular strip of rubber with a small razor cut in the center was extended and then immersed into the solvent, it was found that the small cut grew at a constant rate. Linear relationship was shown between the rate of crack growth (υ) and the extension ratio (α), and critical extensions were found. The kinetics for this crack growth and the critical extensions were considered here.
The rate of crack growth increases considerably with an increase of aromatic ompounds in gasoline, and υ/α increases in proportion to the third power of concentration of aromatic compounds.
On the other hand, critical extensions do not depend upon the kinds of concentration of aromatic compounds, but show the same value. The apparent activation energy of crack growth was 11-14 kcal/mol. It was considered from these results that the mechanism of the solvent crack of rubber is attributed to the diffusion of the solvent into rubber and the expansion of network chains of rubber.
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