Interaction between diffusion of palm biodiesel and large strain in rubber: Effect on stress-softening during cyclic loading

In addition to fluctuating multiaxial mechanical loading, many engineering rubber components are exposed to hostile environments such as oil rich environment. In this case, the mechanical response of rubbers is affected by the interaction existed between mechanical loading and diffusion of liquid into the material. The present work attempts to investigate the above interaction and the resulting mechanical response under cyclic loading conditions in nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) and chloroprene rubber (CR). More precisely, our focus is on the well-known stress-softening (Mullins effect) phenomenon classically observed in rubbers under cyclic loading conditions. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.