Static and dynamic mechanical behavior and constitutive model of polyvinyl chloride elastomers for design processes of soft polymer materials

Abstract

Soft polymer materials are often used in shock absorption, cushioning, and so on. During the design and development process, determining the mechanical behavior and constitutive properties under static and dynamic loads is important to improve product performance. This study aims to analyze the static mechanical performance of polyvinyl chloride elastomers with different Shore hardness levels. Static and dynamic mechanical performance experiments with loading strain rates of 0.1, 1650, 2000, and 2700 s−1 were performed in polyvinyl chloride elastomers (57A, 52A, and 47A) using an electronic dynamic and static fatigue tester and an improved Split Hopkinson pressure bar. Microstructures were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that the addition of plasticizers to polyvinyl chloride promoted the crystallization of the polymer. The presence of plasticizer in the crystal also reduced crystallization. The material plasticity, elastic modulus, yield stress, and flow stress increase with increasing hardness/strain rate, whereas the hardness decreases. The mechanical behavior of polyvinyl chloride elastomers under static and dynamic loads exhibited superelastic and viscoelastic characteristics, respectively. The Mooney–Rivlin, Neo–Hookean, and Yeoh models were selected for the superelastic constitutive model, whereas the Zhu–Wang–Tang model was used for the viscoelastic one. Finally, the applicability of the model was explained. This study can provide theoretical model and method support for the design and development of soft polymer materials.

Static and Dynamic Tensile Mechanical Behavior of Polyvinyl Chloride Elastomers with Different Shore Hardness

“…Quasistatic Tensile Experiment. PVC elastomers with three types of Shore hardness (57A, 52A, and 47A) are used as experimental materials in this study [13]. e quasistatic tensile specimen is designed in accordance with SAC GB/T 528-200921 [14] and prepared by die stamping.…”

“…When direct loading is adopted in the SHTB experiment, the incident wave is a square wave and can reach the maximum strain in a short time, which cannot guarantee constant strain rate loading in the entire loading process. To ensure the accuracy of the SHTB experimental results, a pulse shaper is placed on the end face of the flange (the end face impacted by the sleeve bullet) to obtain the characteristics of the incident wave required (the loading time corresponding to the width of the rising edge of the incident wave is ensured to be greater than the time required for three times of intercourse of the loading pulse in the specimen [13]) and realize constant strain rate loading.…”

Dynamic Response and Deformative Mechanism of the Shape Memory Polymer Filled with Low-Melting-Point Alloy under Different Dynamic Loads

“…Fortunately, some work has been performed on the dynamic mechanical performance of the polymers at high strain rates, which paves the way to explore the mechanical performance of the SMPs under shock loading. Lei et al [ 36 ] found that polyvinyl chloride elastomers exhibit super-elastic and viscoelastic properties under static and dynamic loads, respectively. Fan et al [ 37 ] found that the impact load would cause a significant temperature rise of polyurethane elastomer materials.…”

Numerical Conversion Method for the Dynamic Storage Modulus and Relaxation Modulus of Hydroxy-Terminated Polybutadiene (HTPB) Propellants

“…However, materials in industrial applications are subjected to not only static but also dynamic loads, probably both at the same time, or both occurring sequentially [ 32 ]. Therefore, it is of great importance to study the combination of the dynamic and static studies of propellants to achieve the inter-conversion of the relaxation modulus and dynamic modulus [ 33 , 34 ], so that dynamic and static experiments or simulations can mutually corroborate. So, how can the numerical conversion of the dynamic storage modulus and relaxation modulus in engineering applications be realized?…”