A new concept for stress relaxation measurements of rubbers in compression

Abstract

Current relaxation measurements and associated equipment are not reliable enough to carry out prolonged tests, especially at high temperatures and in liquid environments; the difficulties encountered in such measurements are discussed. The objectives of the present sponsored programme were to examine the best available equipment and experimental techniques and to develop a reliable and reproducible method for measuring stress relaxation in compression which could form a basis for a standard test procedure. In the course of this work, a method of evaluating the available equipment was developed and this is described.