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A comprehensive thermo-viscoelastic experimental investigation of Ecoflex polymer
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Xiaohu Yao,
Rukshan Navaratne,
Gregory Chagnon
Polymer Testing, Volume: 86, Start page: 106478
Swansea University Author:
Mokarram Hossain
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DOI (Published version): 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2020.106478
Abstract
Silicone polymers have enormous applications, especially in the areas of biomedical engineering. Ecoflex, a commercially available room temperature cured silicone polymer, has attracted considerable attention due to its wide range of applications as medical-grade silicones and as matrix materials in...
| Published in: | Polymer Testing |
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| ISSN: | 0142-9418 |
| Published: |
Elsevier BV
2020
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| Online Access: |
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa53806 |
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| Abstract: |
Silicone polymers have enormous applications, especially in the areas of biomedical engineering. Ecoflex, a commercially available room temperature cured silicone polymer, has attracted considerable attention due to its wide range of applications as medical-grade silicones and as matrix materials in producing nano-filled stretchable sensors and dielectric elastomers for soft robotics. In this contribution, we have conducted a wide range of experiments under thermo-mechanical loadings. These experiments consist of loading-unloading cyclic tests, single-step relaxation tests, Mullins effects tests at different strain rates and stretches, stress recovery tests at different rest time, etc. In order to assess the temperature influences on Ecoflex, a number of viscoelastic tests are performed in a thermal chamber with temperature ranging from -40°C to 140°C. Extensive experimental findings illustrate that Ecoflex experiences a significant stress softening in the first cycles and such a softening recovers gradually with respect to time. It also shows a significant amount of cyclic dissipations at various stretch levels as well as a considerable stress relaxation only for virgin samples. Cyclic dissipations and stress relaxation almost disappear for the case of pre-stretched samples. Furthermore, the material is more or less sensitive under a wide range of temperature differences. |
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| Keywords: |
Ecoflex silicone rubber; Mullins effect; Stress recovery; Strain rate dependence; Temperature dependence |
| Start Page: |
106478 |