Modeling the thermomechanical effects of crystallization in natural rubber: II. Elementary thermodynamic properties

The model proposed in the first part of this series for characterizing the thermomechanical response of natural rubber during crystallization is used in this article to model the elementary thermodynamic properties of natural rubber. In particular, known experimental results for the heat capacity, heat of fusion, fundamental melting temperature, and equilibrium crystallinity are used to calculate specific material functions associated with the proposed model. Based on these material parameters the model is used to evaluate the dependence of equilibrium crystallinity on pressure and temperature. The dependence of the melting temperature on pressure is also evaluated. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.