Chapter 8 - The effects of temperature, humidity, and other factors on the properties of thermoplastic elastomers

Abstract

An elastomer is a polymer with the property of “elasticity,” generally having notably low Young’s modulus and high-yield strain compared with other materials [1]. The term is often used interchangeably with the term rubber. Elastomers are amorphous polymers existing above their glass-transition temperature, so that considerable segmental motion is possible, so it is expected that they would also be very permeable. At ambient temperatures, rubbers are thus relatively soft and deformable. Their primary uses are for seals, adhesives, and molded flexible parts. Elastomers may be thermosets (requiring vulcanization, a form of cross-linking) or thermoplastic, called thermoplastic elastomer.