Determination of young's modulus of elastomers by use of a thermomechanical analyzer

This work used a conventional thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) to measure the depth of indentation at room temperature of elastomers and Finkin's equation to calculate Young's moduli of elastomers, which have been measured by Drutowski, from the radius of contact of an indentor on thin sheets of sample. Data obtained from the TMA are compared with those measured by radius of contact and Hertz contact theory and are found in good agreement. Measurements of Young's modulus as a function of temperature at different heating rates by TMA were made for an acrylic elastomer. The results are compared with theory and the deviations from theory are discussed.