Influence of the glass transition temperature gradient on the non-linear viscoelastic behavior in reinforced elastomers

Helene Montes (1) , Francois Lequeux (1) , Julien Berriot (1)

1 SIMM - Sciences et Ingénierie de la Matière Molle (UMR 7615)

We analyze the influence of a glass transition gradient near the particle surfaces on the non-linear mechanical behavior of reinforced elastomers. We studied systems consisting in grafted silica particles dispersed in a cross-linked poly(ethylacrylate) matrix. Both particle/matrix interfaces and dispersion states of the particles have been precisely characterized. Based on previous studies on the same systems evidencing a glass transition gradient around the particles, we show that the precocious non-linear mechanical behavior of these filled systems is related to the strain-softening of the glassy polymer shell surrounding the particles surfaces. Comparing strain-softening and melting of the glassy polymer shell, we observe that the strain-softening is enhanced by strong local stress amplifications. 2

Domaines: Matière Molle [cond-mat.soft]; Matière Condensée [cond-mat]

Helene Montes, Francois Lequeux, Julien Berriot. Influence of the glass transition temperature gradient on the non-linear viscoelastic behavior in reinforced elastomers. Macromolecules, 2003, 36 (21), pp.8107-8118. ⟨10.1021/ma0344590⟩. ⟨hal-02530969⟩