Relaxation processes in vulcanized rubber. I. Relation among stress relaxation, creep, recovery, and hysteresis

Abstract An experimental study is described of stress relaxation, creep, recovery, and hysteresis in vulcanized rubbers under moderate deformations. The measurements indicate that the rate of stress relaxation is substantially independent of the amount or type of deformation for moderate deformations, and is simply related to the hysteresis. The rates of creep and recovery are found to be in good agreement with values calculated from the form of the load—deformation relationship and the (constant) value of the relaxation rate.