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At least 37 records · Page 2

All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

NASA NTRS2011

Comparison of Adhesion and Retention Forces for Two Candidate Docking Seal Elastomers

To successfully mate two pressurized vehicles or structures in space, advanced seals are required at the interface to prevent the loss of breathable air to the vacuum of space. A critical part of the development testing of candidate seal designs was a verification of the integrity of the retaining mechanism that holds the silicone seal component to the structure. Failure to retain the elastomer seal during flight could liberate seal material in the event of high adhesive loads during undocking. This work presents an investigation of the force required to separate the elastomer from its metal counter-face surface during simulated undocking as well as a comparison to that force which was necessary to destructively remove the elastomer from its retaining device. Two silicone elastomers, Wacker 007-49524 and Esterline ELASA-401, were evaluated. During the course of the investigation, modifications were made to the retaining devices to determine if the modifications improved the force needed to destructively remove the seal. The tests were completed at the expected operating temperatures of -50, +23, and +75 C. Under the conditions investigated, the comparison indicated that the adhesion between the elastomer and the metal counter-face was significantly less than the force needed to forcibly remove the elastomer seal from its retainer, and no failure would be expected.

Hartzler, Brad D.↗

NASA NTRS2013

Treatment to Control Adhesion of Silicone-Based Elastomers

Seals are used to facilitate the joining of two items, usually temporarily. At some point in the future, it is expected that the items will need to be separated. This innovation enables control of the adhesive properties of silicone-based elastomers. The innovation may also be effective on elastomers other than the silicone-based ones. A technique has been discovered that decreases the level of adhesion of silicone- based elastomers to negligible levels. The new technique causes less damage to the material compared to alternative adhesion mitigation techniques. Silicone-based elastomers are the only class of rubber-like materials that currently meet NASA s needs for various seal applications. However, silicone-based elastomers have natural inherent adhesive properties. This stickiness can be helpful, but it can frequently cause problems as well, such as when trying to get items apart. In the past, seal adhesion was not always adequately addressed, and has caused in-flight failures where seals were actually pulled from their grooves, preventing subsequent spacecraft docking until the seal was physically removed from the flange via an extravehicular activity (EVA). The primary method used in the past to lower elastomer seal adhesion has been the application of some type of lubricant or grease to the surface of the seal. A newer method uses ultraviolet (UV) radiation a mixture of UV wavelengths in the range of near ultraviolet (NUV) and vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) wavelengths.

deGroh, Henry C., III↗

DOE OSTI2022

Highly stretchable ionically crosslinked acrylate elastomers inspired by polyelectrolyte complexes

Dynamic bonds are a powerful approach to tailor the mechanical properties of elastomers and introduce shape-memory, self-healing, and recyclability. Among the library of dynamic crosslinks, electrostatic interactions among oppositely charged ions have been shown to enable tough and resilient elastomers and hydrogels. In this work, we investigate the mechanical properties of ionically crosslinked ethyl acrylate-based elastomers assembled from oppositely charged copolymers. Using both infrared and Raman spectroscopy, we confirm that ionic interactions are established among polymer chains. We find that the glass transition temperature of the complex is in between the two individual copolymers, while the complex demonstrates higher stiffness and more recovery, indicating that ionic bonds can strengthen and enhance recovery of these elastomers. We compare cycles to increasing strain levels at different strain rates, and hypothesize that at fast strain rates ionic bonds dynamically break and reform while entanglements do not have time to slip, and at slow strain rates ionic interactions are disrupted and these entanglements slip significantly. Further, we show that a higher ionic to neutral monomer ratio can increase the stiffness, but its effect on recovery is minimal. Lastly, taking advantage of the versatility of acrylates, ethyl acrylate is replaced with the more hydrophilic 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, and the latter is shown to exhibit better recovery and self-healing at a cost of stiffness and strength. The design principles uncovered for these easy-to-manufacture polyelectrolyte complex-inspired bulk materials can be broadly applied to tailor elastomer stiffness, strength, inelastic recovery, and self-healing for various applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1972

Development of procedures for calculating stiffness and damping properties of elastomers in engineering applications. Part 1: Verification of basic methods

The primary aim of this investigation was verification of basic methods which are to be used in cataloging elastomer dynamic properties (stiffness and damping) in terms of viscoelastic model constants. These constants may then be used to predict dynamic properties for general elastomer shapes and operating conditions, thereby permitting optimum application of elastomers as energy absorption and/or energy storage devices in the control of vibrations in a broad variety of applications. The efforts reported involved: (1) literature search; (2) the design, fabrication and use of a test rig for obtaining elastomer dynamic test data over a wide range of frequencies, amplitudes, and preloads; and (3) the reduction of the test data, by means of a selected three-element elastomer model and specialized curve fitting techniques, to material properties. Material constants thus obtained have been used to calculate stiffness and damping for comparison with measured test data. These comparisons are excellent for a number of test conditions and only fair to poor for others. The results confirm the validity of the basic approach of the overall program and the mechanics of the cataloging procedure, and at the same time suggest areas in which refinements should be made.

Chiang, T.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Elastomer mounted rotors - An alternative for smoother running turbomachinery

This paper describes the design of elastomeric bearing supports for a rotor built to simulate the power turbine of an advanced gas turbine engine which traverses two bending critical speeds. The elastomer dampers were constructed so as to minimize rotor dynamic response at the critical speeds. Results are presented of unbalance response tests performed with two different elastomer materials. These results showed that the resonances on the elastomer-mounted rotor were well damped for both elastomer materials and showed linear response to the unbalance weights used for response testing. Additional tests were performed using solid steel supports at either end (hand-mounted), which resulted in drastically increased sensitivity and nonlinear response, and with steel supports in one end of the rotor and the elastomer at the other, which yielded results which were between the soft- and hard-mounted cases. It is concluded that elastomeric supports are a viable alternative to other methods of mounting flexible rotors, that damping was well in excess of predictions and that elastomeric supports are tolerant of small rotor misalignments.

Tecza, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The effect of elastomer chain length on properties of silicone-modified polyimide adhesives

A series of polyimides containing silicone elastomers was synthesized in order to study the effects of the elastomer chain length on polymer properties. The elastomer with repeat units varying from n=10 to 105 was chemically reacted into the backbone of an addition polyimide oligomer via reactive aromatic amine groups. Glass transition temperatures of the elastomer and polyimide phases were observed by torsional braid analysis. The elastomer-modified polyimides were tested as adhesives for bonding titanium in order to determine their potential for aerospace applications. Adhesive lap shear tests were performed before and after aging bonded specimens at elevated temperatures.

St.clair, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Polyimide adhesives - Modified with ATBN and silicone elastomers

A series of studies evaluating the effects of added elastomers on the properties of a high-temperature addition polyimide adhesive is reviewed. First, thermoset polyimides containing various butadiene/acrylonitrile and silicone elastomers were synthesized either as physical polybends or by chemically reacting the elastomers directly onto the polymer backbone. The modified adhesive resins were characterized for thermomechanical properties, fracture toughness and adhesive strength. A second series of elastomer-containing polyimides was also prepared in order to study the effects of the elastomer chain length on polymer properties. Aromatic amine-terminated silicone rubbers with repeat units varying from n = 10 to 105 were reacted onto the polyimide backbone, and the resulting polymers were characterized for their adhesive properties.

St. Clair, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Elastomer Filled With Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Experiments have shown that composites of a silicone elastomer with single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are significantly stronger and stiffer than is the unfilled elastomer. The large strengthening and stiffening effect observed in these experiments stands in contrast to the much smaller strengthening effect observed in related prior efforts to reinforce epoxies with SWNTs and to reinforce a variety of polymers with multiple-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The relative largeness of the effect in the case of the silicone-elastomer/SWNT composites appears to be attributable to (1) a better match between the ductility of the fibers and the elasticity of the matrix and (2) the greater tensile strengths of SWNTs, relative to MWNTs. For the experiments, several composites were formulated by mixing various proportions of SWNTs and other filling materials into uncured RTV-560, which is a silicone adhesive commonly used in aerospace applications. Specimens of a standard "dog-bone" size and shape for tensile testing were made by casting the uncured elastomer/filler mixtures into molds, curing the elastomer, then pressing the specimens from a "cookie-cutter" die. The results of tensile tests of the specimens showed that small percentages of SWNT filler led to large increases in stiffness and tensile strength, and that these increases were greater than those afforded by other fillers. For example, the incorporation of SWNTs in a proportion of 1 percent increased the tensile strength by 44 percent and the modulus of elasticity (see figure) by 75 percent. However, the relative magnitudes of the increases decreased with increasing nanotube percentages because more nanotubes made the elastomer/nanotube composites more brittle. At an SWNT content of 10 percent, the tensile strength and modulus of elasticity were 125 percent and 562 percent, respectively, greater than the corresponding values for the unfilled elastomer.

Files, Bradley S.↗

DOE OSTI2025

In situ investigation of high-pressure hydrogen-induced swelling in elastomers and its correlation with material properties

The resistance of elastomeric materials to high-pressure hydrogen-induced damage is essential for ensuring the reliability of hydrogen infrastructure. Here, in this study, we systematically investigated the swelling behavior and hydrogen transport properties of four elastomer types – EPDM, NBR, FKM, and HNBR – using a custom in-situ view cell system capable of real-time monitoring during decompression from pressures up to 96.5 MPa. Each elastomer was formulated with and without fillers and plasticizers to assess the effects of formulation on swelling response. Thermal desorption analysis (TDA) was employed to determine equilibrium hydrogen content and diffusion coefficients, providing insight into gas uptake and mobility within each material. Correlation analyses using Pearson and Spearman coefficients revealed that the diffusion coefficient showed a stronger relationship with swelling behavior than hydrogen content, highlighting the dominant role of hydrogen mobility. Filled elastomers, particularly those with carbon black, consistently showed reduced swelling due to enhanced stiffness and reduced diffusivity. These results deepen our understanding of diffuso-mechanical interactions in elastomers and support the rational design of sealing materials for high-pressure hydrogen systems.

EPDM↗

DOE OSTI2021

The compatibility performance of fuel system elastomers with two dioxolane molecules as blends with diesel

The compatibility of 17 elastomers with two dioxolane molecules was assessed by volume change and hardness measurements. Each molecule was blended with diesel in concentrations of 0, 10, 20 and 30 wt.%. The elastomers included two fluorocarbons, six acrylonitrile butadiene rubbers (NBRs), and one each of fluorosilicone, chloroprene rubber (CR), polyurethane, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), hydrogenated NBR (HNBR), a blend of NBR and PVC (OZO), epichlorohydrin/ ethylene oxide (ECO), ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), and silicone. Specimens of each elastomer were immersed in the test fuels for a period of 4 weeks and measured for property change. Afterwards they were dried at 60°C for 20 h and remeasured. The results showed that the dioxolanes were suitable with many of the elastomers and that the performances were essentially the same for both molecules. The dioxolanes were found to either have negligible impact beyond neat diesel or they produced a small increase in swell. This minimal impact is attributed to the fact that the solubility parameters (especially those associated with polarity and hydrogen bonding) of the dioxolanes are similar to those of diesel. As a result, little change in solubility and hence swell occurred when dioxolane was added to the diesel.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

DOE OSTI2024

Filled Elastomers: Mechanistic and Physics-Driven Modeling and Applications as Smart Materials

Elastomers are made of chain-like molecules to form networks that can sustain large deformation. Rubbers are thermosetting elastomers that are obtained from irreversible curing reactions. Curing reactions create permanent bonds between the molecular chains. On the other hand, thermoplastic elastomers do not need curing reactions. Incorporation of appropriated filler particles, as has been practiced for decades, can significantly enhance mechanical properties of elastomers. However, there are fundamental questions about polymer matrix composites (PMCs) that still elude complete understanding. This is because the macroscopic properties of PMCs depend not only on the overall volume fraction (ϕ) of the filler particles, but also on their spatial distribution (i.e., primary, secondary, and tertiary structure). This work aims at reviewing how the mechanical properties of PMCs are related to the microstructure of filler particles and to the interaction between filler particles and polymer matrices. Overall, soft rubbery matrices dictate the elasticity/hyperelasticity of the PMCs while the reinforcement involves polymer–particle interactions that can significantly influence the mechanical properties of the polymer matrix interface. For ϕ values higher than a threshold, percolation of the filler particles can lead to significant reinforcement. While viscoelastic behavior may be attributed to the soft rubbery component, inelastic behaviors like the Mullins and Payne effects are highly correlated to the microstructures of the polymer matrix and the filler particles, as well as that of the polymer–particle interface. Additionally, the incorporation of specific filler particles within intelligently designed polymer systems has been shown to yield a variety of functional and responsive materials, commonly termed smart materials. We review three types of smart PMCs, i.e., magnetoelastic (M-), shape-memory (SM-), and self-healing (SH-) PMCs, and discuss the constitutive models for these smart materials.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS1980

Development of procedures for calculating stiffness and damping of elastomers in engineering applications, part 6

An elastomer damper was designed, tested, and compared with the performance of a hydraulic damper for a power transmission shaft. The six button Viton-70 damper was designed so that the elastomer damper or the hydraulic damper could be activated without upsetting the imbalance condition of the assembly. This permitted a direct comparison of damper effectiveness. The elastomer damper consistently performed better than the hydraulic mount and permitted stable operation of the power transmission shaft to speeds higher than obtained with the squeeze film damper. Tests were performed on shear specimens of Viton-79, Buna-N, EPDM, and Neoprene to determine performance limitations imposed by strain, temperature, and frequency. Frequencies of between 110 Hz and 1100 Hz were surveyed with imposed strains between 0.0005 and 0.08 at temperatures of 32 C, 66 C, and 80 C. A set of design curves was generated in a unified format for each of the elastomer materials.

Rieger, A.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Elastomer damper performance - A comparison with a squeeze film for a supercritical power transmission shaft

This paper describes the design and testing of an elastomer damper on a super-critical power transmission shaft. The elastomers were designed to provide acceptable operation through the fourth bending mode and to control synchronous as well as nonsynchronous vibration throughout the operating range. The design of the elastomer was such that it could be incorporated into the system as a replacement for a squeeze-film damper without a reassembly, which could have altered the imbalance of the shaft. This provided a direct comparison of the elastomer and squeeze-film dampers without having to assess the effect of shaft imbalance changes.

Zorzi, E. S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Mechanical design handbook for elastomers

A comprehensive guide for the design of elastomer dampers for application in rotating machinery is presented. Theoretical discussions, a step by step procedure for the design of elastomer dampers, and detailed examples of actual elastomer damper applications are included. Dynamic and general physical properties of elastomers are discussed along with measurement techniques.

Darlow, M.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Addition polyimide adhesives containing ATBN and silicone elastomers

A study was conducted to determine the effects of added elastomers on the thermal stability, adhesive strength, and fracture toughness of LARC-13, a high-temperature addition polyimide adhesive. Various butadiene/acrylonitrile and silicon elastomers were incorporated into the polyimide resin either as physical polyblends, or by chemically reacting the elastomers with the polyimide backbone. Adhesive single lap-shear and T-peel strengths were measured before and after ageing at elevated temperature. A tapered double-cantilever beam specimen was used to determine the fracture toughness of the elastomer-modified polyimide adhesives.

Saint Clair, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Elastomer-toughened polyimide adhesives

A study has been conducted to determine the effects of added elastomers on the Tg, thermal stability, adhesive strength, and fracture toughness of LARC-13, a high-temperature addition polyimide adhesive. Various butadiene/acrylonitrile and silicone elastomers were incorporated into the polyimide resin (1) as physical polyblends, and (2) by chemically reacting the elastomers with the polyimide backbone. Adhesive single lap-shear and T-peel strengths were measured before and after aging at elevated temperature. A tapered double-cantilever beam specimen was used to determine the fracture toughness of the elastomer-modified polyimide adhesives.

Saint Clair, A. K.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Method of bonding plasticized elastomer to metal and articles produced thereby

Plasticized elastomer was securely bonded to a metal surface by interposing between the adhesive-coated metal surface and the elastomer sheet of material obtained by combining adhesive with a portion of the elastomer that was treated to remove plasticizers therefrom and heating the assembly in a mold under pressure. The sheet material is made up by dissolving a portion of the plasticized elastomer in an organic solvent, casting the solution, exposing it to a vacuum to remove the solvent and plasticizers, dissolving the deplasticized material in liquid adhesive and casting and drying the resulting liquid.

White, W. T.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Mechanical Design Handbook for Elastomers

Mechanical Design Handbook for Elastomers reviews state of art in elastomer-damper technology with particular emphasis on applications of highspeed rotor dampers. Self-contained reference but includes some theoretical discussion to help reader understand how and why dampers used for rotating machines. Handbook presents step-by-step procedure for design of elastomer dampers and detailed examples of actual elastomer damper applications.

Darlow, M.↗