A Short Note on the Tensile Testing of Rubber

Abstract

Abstract The evaluation of rubber has centered largely around stress-strain phenomena, and the property of tensile strength is probably the one which has the most general application throughout the industry. Rubber exhibits stress-strain properties quite different from the majority of substances, and peculiar difficulties are introduced during the determination of tensile strength. Although tentative standards have recently been issued by the American Chemical Society, there is no evidence that these are being strictly adhered to, and there is still need for a more rigid standardization of tensile-testing methods. There are essentially two methods of tensile-testing: (1) Using dumb-bell test-pieces with a Bureau of Standards machine, or a Scott type of machine; and (2) Using ring test-pieces with a Schopper type of machine. It is generally supposed that higher tensile results are obtained by the former method. Recently, occasion has occurred to make a comparison between both types and to study the effect of certain factors upon each method.