Modeling the Dependence of the Thermo-oxidative Ageing Kinetics of Rubber on its Thickness

Abstract

This article examines the influence of the thickness of the rubber samples on the rate of their thermo-oxidative ageing. Based on the law of mass action and Fick’s second law, a mathematical model was obtained that allows regression to be performed using experimental data and used to estimation life-time of the polymer. Experimental verification of the model was carried out on rubber samples with a thickness from 1 mm to 4 mm. The samples were subjected to accelerated thermo-oxidative ageing at temperatures from 55 to 85 °С and exposure times from 3 to 10 days, after which they tensile stress-strain properties were determined. A regression analysis was performed based on the obtained values. Further analysis showed the high quality of the model – the coefficient of determination was 97%.