Analysis of Silicone Rubber Elastomer Elastic Failure in Small-Size Flexible Joint at Low Temperature

Abstract:

In order to study the performance on silicone rubber elastomer in small-size flexible joint at different temperatures, a series tests for two miniature flexible joints (joint-SR1 and joint-SR2) with the same structure and different formula of silicon rubber elastomer (phenyl silicon rubber and dimethyl silicon rubber) were conducted. Axial compressive stiffness and bending stiffness at various temperatures (-60 °C~20 °C) and vessel pressures (1MPa~8MPa) were studied. Results show that the axial compressive stiffness and bending stiffness of joint-SR1 remain stable throughout the temperature range of-60 °C~20 °C, while those remain stable throughout the temperature range of-40 °C~20 °C and become to be infinite at-50 °C due to the elastic failure of elastomer material for the joint-SR2. Analysis indicates that the reason that elastomer of joint-SR2 lost elasticity at-50 °C is not glass-transition but crystallization. The phenomenon of elastic failure did not appear throughout the temperature range-60 °C~20 °C for the joint-SR1 elastomer is due to the existence of phenyl side-group substitute. The modified chain content of silicone rubber not only affects the process of crystallization inhibition but also the crystallization rate. The rubber with phenyl or other bulky side-group could destroy the crystal of silicone rubber at low temperatures, which is beneficial to be applied in small-size flexible joint.

• Periodical: Key Engineering Materials (Volumes 575-576)
• Pages: 427-433
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.575-576.427
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Chao Wang, Jun Xue Ren, Yu Liu, Wen Qiang Hao, Jing Xian Yang
• Keywords: Axial Compressive Stiffness, Bending Stiffness, Crystallization, Flexible Joint, Glass-Transition, Silicone Rubber

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