3.1 Low temperature testing of rubber can yield repeatable results only if the preconditioning of the samples is consistent. Properties such as brittleness and modulus are greatly affected by variations in time/temperature exposures. This practice is intended to provide uniform conditioning for the various low temperature tests conducted on rubbers.
Область применения1.1 This practice covers the characteristic mechanical behavior of rubbers at low temperatures, and outlines the conditioning procedure necessary for testing at these temperatures.
1.2 One of the first stages in establishing a satisfactory technique for low temperature testing is the specification of the time and temperature of exposure of the test specimen. It has been demonstrated that any one or more of the following distinct changes, which are detailed in Table 1, may take place on lowering the test temperature:
TABLE 1 Differentiation Between Crystallization and Glass TransitionProperty
Crystallization
Glass Transition
Physical effects
(1, 2, 4, 6, 7)A
Becomes stiff (hard) but not necessarily brittle
Becomes stiff and brittle
Temperature-volume relation
(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8)
Significant decrease in volume
No change in volume, but definite change in coefficient of thermal expansion
Latent heat effect (4, 5, 8)
Heat evolved on crystallization
Usually no heat effect, but definite change in specific heat
Rate (2, 4, 6, 7, 8)
Minutes, hours, days, or even months may be required. In general, as temperature is lowered, rate increases to a maximum and then decreases with increase in deformation. Rate also varies with composition, state of cure, and nuclei remaining from previous crystallizations, or from compounding materials such as carbon black.
Usually rapid; takes place within a definite narrow temperature range regardless of thermal history of specimen. May be limited rate effect (2)
Temperature of occurrence
(4, 5, 7, 8
Optimum temperature is specific to the polymer involved.
Very wide limits, depending on composition
Effect on molecular structure
(1, 2, 5, 6, 8)
Orientation of molecular segments; random if unstrained, approaching parrallelism under strain
Change in type of motion of segments of molecule
Materials exhibiting
properties (5, 7, 8)
Unstretched polymers including natural rubber (low sulfur vulcanizates), chloroprene, Thiokol A polysulfide rubber, butadiene copolymers with high butadiene content, most silicones, some polyurethanes. Butyl rubbers crystallize when strained. Straining increases rate of crystallization of all of the above materials.
All
A The numbers in parentheses refer to the following references:1.2.1 Simple temperature effects,
1.2.3 First order transitions (crystallization), and solubility and other effects associated with plasticizers.
1.3 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.