QUANTITATIVE MODEL FOR THE TIME DEVELOPMENT OF DIFFUSION-LIMITED OXIDATION PROFILES

We combine diffusion and kinetic expressions with chemical/mechanical property relationships to develop a complete, quantitative model with no arbitrarily adjustable parameters for the time development of diffu sion-limited oxidation profiles. Excellent agreement between experimen tal and theoretical modulus profiles for two materials (a nitrile and a neoprene) confirms our understanding of diffusion-limited oxidation and its time and temperature dependencies. The simple assumption of no time dependencies in any of the model parameters is adequate for pred ictions relevant to elastomer service lifetimes. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.