Research

Dynamic Behaviour of Filled Elastomers

Principal investigator: James BUSFIELD
Co-investigator(s):
Funding source(s): Sibelco UK Ltd & EPSRC Case Award
 Start: 01-10-2010  /  End: 31-03-2014
Directly incurred staff: Lewis Tunnicliff
Dynamical Mechanical Testing of Rubber

This project is examining how the visco-elastic properties of different filled elastomer materials are affected by compounding and test temperature. Building on a relatively simple testing and modelling approach developed by a previous researcher in the group (Suphadon), this programme examines how the visco-elastic behaviour of a filled compound can be understood from a measure of the damping at small strains coupled with model creep experiments. The aim is to deduce the fundamental reinforcing mechanisms of filled elastomer materials.