The processing behavior (processability) of rubber or rubberlike materials is closely related to their viscoelastic properties. The viscoelastic properties as well as the mechanical properties are related to the polymeric, including macromolecular and micromolecular structure. Therefore, a determination of the viscoelasticity of a material will provide information to predict processing and service performance.

Stress relaxation testing provides a methodology for investigating the viscoelasticity of rubber or rubberlike materials. Certain structural characteristics that have been demonstrated to be evaluated by this test method are: (1) average molecular weight, (2) molecular weight distribution, (3) linearity or chain branching, (4) gel content, and (5) monomer ratio.

This practice is intended to describe various methods of measuring the stress relaxation properties of raw rubber, unvulcanized rubber compounds, or thermoplastic elastomers for determining the processability of these materials through viscoelastic measurements. Factory performance characteristics that this methodology may correlate with include die swell or shrinkage, extrusion rate, mill banding, carbon black incorporation time, and mold flow.

1.1 This practice covers several different techniques for determining the stress relaxation characteristics of rubber and rubber like materials and for the possible interconversion of this stress relaxation information into dynamic mechanical properties.

1.2 The techniques are intended for materials having stress relaxation moduli in the range of 10³ to 10⁸ Pa (0.1 to 1.5 x 10⁴ psi) and for test temperatures from 23 to 225°C (73 to 437°F). Not all measuring apparatus may be able to accommodate the entire ranges. These techniques are also intended for measurement of materials in their rubbery or molten states, or both.

1.3 Differences in results will be found among the techniques. Because of these differences, the test report needs to include the technique and the conditions of the test. This information will allow for resolving any issues pertaining to the test measurements.

1.4 The generalized descriptions of apparatus are based on the measurement of force as a function of time. Mathematical treatment of that relationship produces information that can be representative of material properties. Mathematical transformation of the force measurements will first yield stress relaxation moduli with subsequent transformation producing dynamic mechanical properties.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are provided for information only.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.