Micromechanical interpretation and modelling of the mechanical properties of filled elastomers during relaxation and cyclic experiments

With the help of a non-contact laser-optical two-dimensional strain-measurement device it could be shown, that dewetting is the main reason for relaxation and strain-induced softening in a glass-bead filled elastomer system. Based on the experimental results, a simple micromechanical model of the filled elastomer was createt, which is able to explain the observed force dacay during relaxation and the therewith coupled decay of lateral contraction with dewetting.