Microphase Separation in Strain-Crystallizing Rubber
J.G. Plagge, Reinhard Hentschke
Abstract
Based on a microscopic numerical model, we describe strain-induced crystallization in rubbers as a cooperative phenomenon governed by the formation of crystal superstructures. The main paradigm is that crystallization is faster than the relaxation of the matrix and can be modeled as a local process. During mechanical cycling, a microphase separation is observed, which is driven by more efficient strain regulation of parallely arranged crystals and even emerges without local interaction between crystals. By introducing direct crystal–crystal interaction, we are able to reproduce critical experiments performed on natural rubber. Our study suggests that strain crystallization, specifically its reinforcing and crack propagation inhibiting effects, cannot be fully understood on the level of a single crystal alone.