1. Mechanical behavior of elastomers

1.1 Complex mechanical response

Elastomers are generally amorphous polymers made up of long linear macromolecular chains. They are mostly thermosetting polymers with a low degree of cross-linking. This means that the chains are linked together by chemical bridges (usually sulfur or peroxide) known as cross-linking points, as in the case of vulcanized rubbers. In industry, elastomers are frequently reinforced with fillers such as carbon black or silica, which considerably increase their stiffness. There are many different elastomers (see table 1 for examples) with widely differing chemical characteristics and physical and mechanical properties. The major property of elastomers, whether natural or synthetic, lies in the fact...