Elastomers:: Characterization of tensile behaviour at lower deformations

Small deformations of hard materials are characterized by elastic modulus E. For characterization of elastomers a stress at given strain is commonly used. This value is obtained from one measured point on the stress-strain curve. For characterization of tensile behaviour of elastomers we have used here a specific deformation energy in tension between zero and the chosen strain. The coefficients of variation of the measured specific deformation energies were reasonably low. The main advantage of using the specific deformation energy (instead of stress at given strain) is the fact that this value is obtained directly from all measured data between zero and the chosen strain. Specific deformation energy should be therefore more sensitive to differences in behaviour of elastomers than the stress at given strain. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.