title: Radiation-induced mechanical property changes in filled rubber.
abstract: In a recent paper we exposed a filled elastomer to controlled radiation dosages and explored changes in its cross-link density and molecular weight distribution between network junctions [A. Maiti et al., Phys. Rev. E 83, 031802 (2011)]. Here we report mechanical response measurements when the material is exposed to radiation while being under finite nonzero strain. We observe interesting hysteretic behavior and material softening representative of the Mullins effect, and materials hardening due to radiation. The net magnitude of the elastic modulus depends upon the radiation dosage, strain level, and strain-cycling history of the material. Using the framework of Tobolsky's two-stage independent network theory we develop a model that can quantitatively interpret the observed elastic modulus and its radiation and strain dependence.
authors.affiliation: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550, USA. amaiti@llnl.gov
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiti
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Weisgraber
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gee
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Small
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Alviso
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chinn
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Maxwell
mesh_terms: D055119:Elastic Modulus; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011827:Radiation; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012408:Rubber; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber