Deformation mechanisms of degraded elastomers studied by WAXS and SAXS

The objective of this proposal, as well as its originality, is to study strain induced crystallization (by WAXS) and cavitation damages (by SAXS) associated of a specific elastomer having chemical modifications (especially chain scissions) due to an oxidative degradation process. A specific sulphur-crosslinked polyisoprene has been chosen as a model elastomer with and without reinforcing fillers. As expected, the fillers (carbon black) promote damage mechanisms such as cavitation detected by SAXS. We plan to acquire WAXS and SAXS data during in situ tensile tests on two series (12 states of degradation) of the same elastomer with and without 60% vol. reinforcing fillers.