An analytical study of cavitation in rubber-toughened polymers

An analysis is presented to study the cavitation of rubber particles, and i ts influence on the mechanical properties of rubber-toughened polymers. Thi s analysis is developed from our previous analytical method using a quasi-s phere model to determine the mechanical properties of rubber-toughened poly mers without a cavity. The behaviour of the rubber particle is described by Ogden's formulation and large deformation theory is used to explain the be haviour. Both initiation and elastic deformation of the cavity are consider ed. The method is simple and the formulas (including the cavitation criteri on) are explained so that they can be used easily. It has been found that e ven a small defect in a rubber sphere has a significant influence on the bu lk modulus of the rubber sphere and the properties of the composite materia l.