Open AccessA molecular interpretation of the toughness of multiple network elastomers at high temperature
Author(s) -
Juliette Slootman,
C. Joshua Yeh,
Pierre Millereau,
Jean Comtet,
Costantino Creton
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.011
H-Index - 771
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2116127119
Subject(s) - elastomer , materials science , viscoelasticity , toughness , composite material , toughening , dissipative system , stiffening , polymer science , thermodynamics , physics
Significance Soft 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.