The Behavior of Rubber at Low Temperatures

Abstract

Abstract (1) Raw rubber, smoked sheet as well as crepe, freezes to a high degree at low temperatures. The difference between the freezing at −10° and −60° C. is comparatively small at initial elongations of 300 and 400%. With smaller initial elongations there is a greater difference in degree of freezing at temperatures of − 10° and −60° C. A complete loss of the elastic properties of the rubber takes place at −70° C. (2) Previous heating of raw rubber, even at a temperature of 140° C, has no effect on its freezing-resistance. (3) The susceptibility of rubber to freezing increases with increase of the elongation, this effect being strongly marked above an elongation of 200%. (4) An increase in the vulcanization temperature, and therefore a shortening of the vulcanizing time, has only an insignificant effect on the freezing-resistance of rubber compounds. (5) The freezing effect increases as the temperature is lowered. (6) An entire loss of the elastic properties of vulcanized rubber takes place for the lower initial elongations at a temperature of —70° C; for higher elongations; however, they are still retanied at this temperature in a very small degree. (7) “Pure” rubber compounds have a much greater resistance to freezing than loaded ones. (8) The minimum susceptibility to freezing for loaded compounds is obtained with those that are slightly overvulcanized. At the higher elongations this minimum is distinctly shifted into the region of overvulcanization. (9) Softeners have in general no effect in reducing susceptibility to freezing. (10) The use of phenyl-β-naphthylamine has no effect on the susceptibility to freezing. (11) The aging of rubber, even when producing 40% of loss of tensile product, has no effect in lowering its resistance to freezing either at −10° or −60° C. and at initial elongations of from 100 to 400%. On the other hand, the resistance to freezing of aged samples is less at temperatures of −40° and −50° C. with initial elongations of 100 to 200% ; at an initial elongation of 300% they show almost no change in relation to unaged samples, while at an elongation of 400% they show a distinct increase in resistance to freezing. (12) Airplane and balloon shock-absorbers of “pure” rubber compounds possess, within the limits of their elongation during use, even at a temperature of — 40° C, quite insignificant susceptibility to freezing. An entire loss of their elastic properties occurs at −70° C. (13) Keeping airplanes in improvised sheds in winter time even at −20° C. has practically no effect on the usefulness of rubber shock-absorbers.