Effect of environmental exposure on the stiffness and energy loss properties of nitrile elastomers

Abstract

Elastomers play an important role in today's society. Elastomers, in many applications, are exposed to elevated temperatures and environments that can alter material properties. All to often the elastomer itself may be responsible for these elevated temperatures. To function satisfactorily, the elastomer must be chosen so as to retain optimum properties in the environments and temperatures to which they are exposed. To gain an understanding of the mechanisms responsible for heat generation an initial study of the compressive energy dissipation characteristics of several elastomer compounds has been conducted. Both low frequency, .22 Hz, and high frequency, 17.5 Hz testing has been conducted to compare material response. Characteristics have also been investigated after exposure to fuel and water and compared to unexposed materials. Compound formulations have been altered by the type and quantity of carbon black to investigate the effect of filler on heat dissipation.