INPLANE AND TRANSVERSE DAMPING CHARACTERISTICS OF SHORT-FIBER-REINFORCED BROMOBUTYL RUBBER COMPOSITES

The viscoelastic properties of short Kevlar(R) fibre-reinforced bromobutyl rubber (BIIR), were studied over a wide frequency range using a planar random orientation of the reinforcing fibre. The experimentally evaluated viscoelastic properties were compared with values computed using a model modified suitably to account for the two-dimensional random distribution of fibres. Evaluation of the transverse properties suggests that anisotropy in damping property has been brought in by the introduction of fibres. The studies suggest the possibility of developing material systems that combine improved mechanical properties in the plane of reinforcement, together with good damping characteristics in the transverse plane.