A novel approach for the determination of the physicomechanical propertiesof polymers by vibrational spectroscopy: The tensile strength of polybutadiene rubber

In an attempt to extend the applications of IR spectroscopy, we report here on a novel method for the determination of the tensile strength (Ts) of po lybutadiene rubber (PBR). A simple linear correlation between Ts and the pe ak absorbance ratio was developed. The method is simple, direct, and fast a nd involves only the measurement of the absorbance ratio from the IR spectr um of PBR film. The results obtained by this (IR-based) method and the curr ently used (ASTM) method, for quality control/quality assurance purposes, w ere in good agreement. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.