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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Photograph of contraction experiment
The Stiffness of Rubber
This teaching and learning package is based on a two experiments which demonstrate the behaviour of rubber under tension. The first displays the unusual behaviour of a rubber strip when heated under tension; the second considers the behaviour of a rubber membrane under tension. In both cases the behaviour is considered theoretically in terms of the molecular structure of rubber and the thermodynamic entropy changes involved.
Photograph of contraction experiment
First created: April 2004. Last updated: August 2006.