“Explosive Decompression Failure” of Rubbers: A Review of the Origins of Pneumatic Stress Induced Rupture in Elastomers

Abstract

Abstract The Review first describes the general features of gas induced rupture in elastomers, induced by a reduction in the ambient gas pressure, and introduces the main variables such as the gas-polymer transport and equilibrium properties. The phenomenologieal nature of the failure processes are also described and the characteristics of the failures encountered are summarized. It is proposed that the failure processes, which involve bubble expansion and subsequent tearing of the interior and exterior of the elastomer, arise from the action of at least two stress fields; one is provided by a simple triaxial tension and the other by an evolving gas concentration gradient. Various routes to model this process are described in the Review. In addition, the importance of the main system variables, on these rupture processes, is assessed and means of deducing, and directly measuring the parameters which may influence the rupture process are described. These include various equilibrium and transient properties such as the extent of the gas mass sorption, the associated volume change and the variation of the mechanical and thermal properties of the polymer-gas system at elevated pressures.