| Abstract: | Natural rubber crosslinked by dicumyl peroxide in amounts up to 25 parts per hundred of rubber (phr) showed a maximum in tensile strength near 1 phr, followed by a steep decrease to a minimum near 5 phr. The ultimate elongation decreased from 870% at 0.5 phr. to about 10% above 10 phr. The modulus increased linearly with increase of crosslinking. The creep rate decreased from 5.6% per decade at 0.5 phr to zero at 5 phr and higher values. Crystallization, with a resultant abrupt increase in creep, was noted in specimens held in the stretched condition for more than one day. Between 5 and 25 phr this system (when crystallization is avoided) appears to function as an ideal elastic network and can be recommended for studies of rubber elasticity since no variation of modulus with time is observed. |
