Elastic properties of adhesive polymers.: I.: Polymer films by means of electronic speckle pattern interferometry

The elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio of seven different polymers frequently used as wood adhesives and/or matrix polymers in wood- and natural-fibre-reinforced composites, respectively, were determined by means of tensile tests. Specimen deformation during testing was measured by means of a mechanical extensometer and an electronic speckle pattern interferometry system, respectively. The results from both methods show an excellent correlation for the elastic modulus. The elastic moduli of the studied polymers cover a wide range from 0.47 GPa for polyurethane to 6.3 GPa for melamine-urea-formaldehyde, whereas Poisson's ratios show less variability. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.