The Stiffness of Rubber
AimsIntroductionTheory of rubber conformationThermodynamics - the entropy springEntropy derivationContraction of rubberContraction experimentVerificationBiaxial tensionBalloon experimentSummaryQuestionsGoing furtherTLP creditsTLP contentsShow all contentViewing and downloading resourcesAbout the TLPsTerms of useFeedbackCredits Print this page
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Aims
On completion of this TLP you should:
- Be able to predict the stiffness of rubber from a simple picture of its molecular structure
- Be able to use the stiffness to predict how rubber specimens of different shapes will deform
- Understand why rubber is known as an "entropy spring"
- Appreciate that the stiffness of rubber rises with increasing temperature, in contrast to all other materials
- Understand the pressure-size relationship exhibited by a balloon