FATIGUE AND FRACTURE OF ELASTOMERS

The use of an energetics approach to treat various aspects of fatigue and fracture in elastomers is reviewed. Topics covered include tearing , crack growth and fatigue, tensile failure, oxidative effects, enviro nmental cracking, cutting by sharp objects, abrasion, adhesion, fricti on (under circumstances where it is determined mainly by the making an d breaking of contact), and cavitation. Application of the approach to service problems is also considered. Finally, physical and chemical f actors affecting the crack growth characteristics-the material propert y linking various types of cohesive failure-are discussed.