High Temperature Relaxation Transitions in Elastomers

Abstract 1. For binary mixtures of polybutadienes with differing molecular weights, a high temperature (or low frequency) transition was discovered, with the temperature-frequency position of the transition showing up as a function of the molecular weight of the low molecular weight constituents, and yet the transition does not depend on the concentration of these constituents. The value of the maximum for the mechanical loss tangent is determined by the concentration of low molecular weight components. 2. With regard to the viscoelastic behavior of the mixes at reduced temperatures, the transition reflects mainly the presence of the low molecular weight components, but at high temperatures the transition is indicative of the presence of the high molecular weight constituents. 3. The observed transition is associated with the manifestation of mobility of the molecules of the low molecular weight components, as a whole.