Inflation Technique Optimization for an Elastomer Biaxial Characterization

Fabrice Schmidt (1) , Nicolas Reuge (2) , Yannick Le Maoult (1) , Jean Paul Arcens , B. David

1 Centre Matériaux - Ecole des Mines Albi-Carmaux
2 LGC - Laboratoire de génie chimique [ancien site de Basso-Cambo]

It can be extremely useful to know biaxial properties of materials like elastomers used for mechanical applications or thermoplastics for the simulation of injection stretch/blow moulding or thermoforming processes. The biaxial stress-strain data of such materials can be obtained using a bubble-inflation-technique. A circular membrane is clamped at the rim and inflated by a pressure applied to one of its side. The inflation of the circular membrane is recorded using a CCD video camera and the blowing pressure by a pressure sensor. This technique was applied to the determination of an elastomer rheological behaviour, and will be adapted for thermoplastics (including a heating device). First, an experimental setup was carried out, using a thickness measurement magnetic probe, in order to validate rheometer results. Circonferential biaxial Cauchy stress-elongation curve of the elastomer studied was compared with the uniaxial stress-elongation curve.

Domains: Engineering Sciences [physics]; Chemical and Process Engineering

Fabrice Schmidt, Nicolas Reuge, Yannick Le Maoult, Jean Paul Arcens, B. David. Inflation Technique Optimization for an Elastomer Biaxial Characterization. International Conference of Polymer Processing Society, May 1999, Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. ⟨hal-02056274⟩