With the guidance of Prof. Li and Dr. Chen, the work: Reconstructing the Mechanical Response of Polybutadiene Rubber Based on Micro-Structural Evolution in Strain-Temperature Space: Entropic Elasticity and Strain-Induced Crystallization as the Bridges is studied by doctor Pinzhang Chen et al. The related work has been published in Soft Matter.

Strain-induced crystallization (SIC) in polybutadiene rubber (BR) was studied by in-situ synchrotron radiation wide-angle X-ray diffraction (SR-WAXD) over a broad temperature range (-90 °C→ 25 °C). Depending on the presence or absence of SIC and quiescent crystallization temperature, three temperature regions are divided. Detailed structural evolution is summarized in the strain-temperature space. Based on this micro-structural evolution information, the macroscopic mechanical response of BR, together with poly(isobutylene-isoprene) rubber (IIR) and natural rubber (NR), is reproduced based on Flory’s and Plagge’s theories. The origins of the mismatch of calculated and experimental stress-strain curves, especially in large strain region, are discussed, which are mainly ascribed to the micro-macro connecting approach and the network inhomogeneity.

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51973207, 51790503, 51633009 and 51903091).

Reconstructing the Mechanical Response of Polybutadiene Rubber Based on Micro-Structural Evolution in Strain-Temperature Space: Entropic Elasticity and Strain-Induced Crystallization as the Bridges