A molecular interpretation of the toughness of multiple network elastomers at high temperature.
- Resource Type
- Academic Journal
- Authors
- Slootman J; Laboratoire SIMM, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75231 Cédex 05 Paris, France.; Yeh CJ; Laboratoire SIMM, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75231 Cédex 05 Paris, France.; Millereau P; Laboratoire SIMM, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75231 Cédex 05 Paris, France.; Comtet J; Laboratoire SIMM, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75231 Cédex 05 Paris, France.; Creton C; Laboratoire SIMM, ESPCI Paris, PSL University, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, 75231 Cédex 05 Paris, France.
- Source
- Publisher: National Academy of Sciences Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 7505876 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1091-6490 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00278424 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Subsets: MEDLINE
- Subject
- Language
- English
SignificanceSoft materials can be toughened by creating dissipative mechanisms in stretchy matrixes. Yet using them over a wide range of temperatures requires dissipative mechanisms independent of stretch rate or temperature. We show that sacrificial covalent bonds in multiple network elastomers are most useful in toughening elastomers at high temperature and act synergistically with viscoelasticity at lower temperature. We do not attribute this toughening mechanism only to the scission of bonds during crack propagation but propose that the highly stretched network diluted in a stretchy matrix acts by simultaneously stiffening the elastomer and delaying the localization of bond scission and the propagation of a crack. Such a toughening mechanism has never been proposed for elastomers and should guide network design.