Instructor's Copy

Experiment 4: To study the load-displacement behaviour of rubber and its

contraction on heating

A. Load-displacement behavior of Rubber band at room temperature:

(5 marks)
Marking: For correct reading and calculation

B. Behaviour of Rubber band after heating: (3 marks)

Marking: For correct reading and calculation

1. Plot F (on y-axis) vs. − on x-axis. Draw the best fit line passing through
the origin. Using the slope of this line and the ‘equation of state’ of the elastomer
(e.g., page 248 of your text book), calculate the number of chain segments between
the crosslinks in the rubber specimen.
(8 marks)

We need to provide them graph for plotting the data based on Experiment A.
Marking: Those who will be able to plot the graph (fitting plot) of this trend will get 4 marks
For the correct equation provide 2 marks
For the correct calculation provide 2 marks

2. Verify from your observation whether the ‘equation of state’ of an elastomer is a

single valued and continuous function by evaluating the following product (see
equation 10.14 of your book) (4 marks)
∆ ∆ ∆
× ×
∆ ∆ ∆

Solution: Calculate eq. 1, obtained experimentally,

∆ ∆ ∆
× ×
∆ ∆ ∆

There will be a steep increase in the slope of the experimental curve, this is attributed to bond
stretching during the straightening of molecules.
They need to calculate at least 3 different slopes.
Marking: For correct plot provide 2 marks
Marking: For each slope award 1 mark
For correct calculation provide 1 mark

3. Draw the stress-strain curve of a rubber vulcanizate. (2 marks)

Solution:
Marking: For correct trend of plot provide 2 marks

4. Explain why rubber under constant tension contracts on heating. (3 marks)

Solution: The enhanced thermal energy of rubber molecules increases the possibility of
conformational changes. This accelerates the recovery of rubber.

It can also be explained as follows:

On heating, entropy of rubber chains will enhance. To gain back their lost entropy after
stretching, rubber chains will try to become more random, or curl back up again.