Future trends in predicting the complex fracture behaviour of rubber materials

Abstract

Future trends in predicting the fracture behaviour of rubber materials (products) are discussed. A complex methodology for the determination of rubber fracture behaviour from the energy viewpoint based on simulating realistic loading conditions in services applied to a rubber matrix in a laboratory test set-up is introduced. Because this is a pure rubber matrix investigation, additional effects such as rubber product design or assembling the final performance can be fully avoided. This methodology requires instrumented and automated laboratory equipment—an intrinsic strength analyser and a tear and fatigue analyser which represent the first commercialization of a classic method for assessing long-term durability. These testing methods are applied to quantify the behaviour of rubber compounds over a broad range of tearing energies—from the fatigue threshold up to the critical tearing energy or the ultimate tear strength $$T_{\mathrm {C}}$$ to determine the relationship between fatigue crack growth rates da/dn versus the tearing energy T. This complex methodology was evaluated for carbon-black-reinforced compounds based on pure natural rubber and butadiene rubber typical for tire applications. Finally, the determined data were correlated with previous work done by Lake and Lindley (J Appl Polym Sci 9:1233–1251, 1965) as well as with practical experiences of tire manufacturers.