ABSTRACT
Nanoscopic filler materials like carbon black or silica play an important role in reinforcement of elastomers. Besides making the elastomer stiffer and tougher, the incorporation of a filler brings about a non-linear dynamic-mechanical response reflected by the amplitude dependence of the dynamic moduli. This effect was investigated by several authors like Payne (Kraus 1965) and Medalia (1973). A related effect is the stress softening under quasi-static cyclic deformation, which was studied by Mullins intensively (Kraus 1965). A drop in stress usually occurs after the loading history has gone beyond the previous maximum. Most of the stress drop at a certain strain occurs in the first cycle, and in the following cycles the specimen approaches a steady state stress-strain curve. A second characteristic effect caused by fillers is the pronounced hysteresis, which leads to the dissipation of mechanical energy.
