A New Technique for Characterization of Low Impedance Materials at Acoustic Frequencies

Measuring the mechanical properties of low impedance rubbery polymers at acoustic frequencies is a challenging problem due to the small signal amplitudes, relatively high loss, and the long wavelength of stress waves. One such material is solid polyurea (PU), an elastomeric copolymer, which has excellent chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties and is widely used as a coating (e.g. in truck bed lining) or blast protection (advanced helmet designs and concrete structures) material. Moreover, due to its heterogeneous structure, PU has a wide transition of thermo-mechanical behavior from rubber-like to glassy compared to most engineering polymers, which translates to a broader loss spectrum in frequency domain. In this study, we have developed a new test technique by modifying the split Hopkinson pressure bar and using ball impact to measure Young’s storage and loss moduli of polyurea at kHz frequencies. This will therefore fill the frequency gap between the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and ultrasonic (US) wave measurement. The measured Young’s storage and loss moduli from this technique are compared with the master curves of the moduli developed using experimental data of dynamic mechanical analysis and ultrasonic wave measurements. This technique is a direct measurement which provides more reliable data in the kHz frequency range and can be used to evaluate the reliability of other indirect estimations including master curves. The utility of this technique is not limited to polyurea and it can be used to characterize other low impedance materials at kHz frequencies.