Ageing of natural rubber under stress

We report a dynamical-mechanical study of stress relaxation at small deformation in a natural (polyisoprene) rubber well above its glass transition temperature . We find that an almost complete relaxation of stress takes place over very long relaxation periods, even though the elastic network is retained. The relaxation rate and the long-time equilibrium modulus are sensitive functions of temperature which do not follow time-temperature superposition. Many characteristic features of non-ergodic ageing response are apparent at both short and very long times. We interpret the observed behaviour in terms of the nature of rubber cross-links, capable of isomerisation under stress, and relate the results to recent models of slow glassy rheology. Received 22 November 1999 and Received in final form 18 January 2000