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The Fatigue Threshold of Rubber and Its Characterization Using the Cutting Method

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Fatigue Crack Growth in Rubber Materials

Part of the book series: Advances in Polymer Science ((POLYMER,volume 286))

Abstract

Below a limiting value of tearing energy called the intrinsic strength or fatigue threshold (T0), cracks will not grow in rubber due to fatigue; hence, this material characteristic is important to understand from both fundamental and practical perspectives. We summarize key aspects of the fatigue threshold, including the Lake-Thomas molecular interpretation of T0 in terms of fracture of polymer network chains in crosslinked elastomers. The various testing approaches for quantifying T0 are also discussed, with a focus on the classic Lake-Yeoh cutting method which was recently revived by the introduction of a commercial testing instrument that applies this procedure, the Intrinsic Strength Analyser (ISA). A validation of the cutting method is also given by demonstrating that a 2-h test on the ISA yields a value of T0 that is essentially identical to the T0 from near-threshold fatigue crack growth (FCG) measurements that require 7.5 months of continuous testing. Compound formulation effects – polymer type, crosslink density, type and amount of reinforcing fillers, and addition of oils/plasticizers – are examined based on the limited published research in this area and our new results. At the end, some insights are offered into using the fatigue threshold to develop highly durable rubber products.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic – DKRVO (RP/CPS/2020/004). We thank Joshua R. Goossens from DriV Inc. (Milan, OH) and Dr. Nihat Isitman from Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (Akron, OH) for collaborating in the ISA investigations of compounding effects that are described in previous works [23, 24] and replotted in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endurica LLC, Findlay, OH, USA

    Christopher G. Robertson & William V. Mars

  2. PRL Polymer Research Lab, Zlín, Czech Republic

    Radek Stoček

  3. Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Zlín, Czech Republic

    Radek Stoček

Authors
  1. Christopher G. Robertson
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  2. Radek Stoček
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  3. William V. Mars
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Christopher G. Robertson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Leibniz-Institut für Polymerforschung, Dresden e.V. and Technische Universität, Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Gert Heinrich

  2. Coesfeld GmbH & Co. KG, Dortmund, Germany

    Reinhold Kipscholl

  3. PRL Polymer Research Lab, Centre of Polymer Systems, Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Zlín, Czech Republic

    Radek Stoček

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Robertson, C.G., Stoček, R., Mars, W.V. (2020). The Fatigue Threshold of Rubber and Its Characterization Using the Cutting Method. In: Heinrich, G., Kipscholl, R., Stoček, R. (eds) Fatigue Crack Growth in Rubber Materials. Advances in Polymer Science, vol 286. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/12_2020_71

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