Experiment 1 - Tensile Testing of Rubber

In this lab we tested the tensile strength of rubber to examine and demonstrate the non-linear time-
dependent elastic behaviour of rubber. When we closely examine the molecules of rubber we can
see that the molecules form very small coils which can be stretched out in a similar manner to that
of a spring. However the one difference from a spring is that within the chemical structure the coil
like structure is linked by a primary chemical bond which doesn’t allow for any big irreparable
deformation to take place. It has a similar elastic behaviour as many other non-complex crystalline
structures in regards to the elastic part above the glass transition temperature. The elastic
behaviour will not end up being linear which is due to there being a rather complex relationship
between the restraining links and stretching coils.

In a limited space when there is long molecules they will flow across each other so the response of
the change is slow within the shape. During the experiment the energy which is used to rearrange
the molecules may be absorbed and will causes hysteresis to occur causing polymers, which are
quickly loaded and unloaded to heat up.

The Experiment
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25

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0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
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1.6

1.4

1.2

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0
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7

Single band Test Double Band Test