Influence of Operating Temperature on Crack Growth Characteristics and Fatigue Life Prediction of Carbon Black-Filled Hydrogenated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber

Rubber is widely used in situations involving cyclic loads, and the influence of temperature on rubber properties is particularly pronounced under cyclic loading. In this study, mechanical property tests and crack propagation tests of carbon black-filled hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber were conducted at four different operating temperatures. Based on the results of the crack propagation tests, the temperature-dependent characteristics of the Paris-Erdogan parameters and strain energy density were clarified. The Paris-Erdogan parameters were successfully expressed as a function of temperature. The strain energy density, on the other hand, exhibited the property of being strongly influenced by factors of strain, loading frequency, and others, while the temperature dependence was weak. On this basis, the unified fatigue crack growth kinetic model was constructed at multiple temperatures. The model results can match the experimental data well, particularly at temperatures of 60 °C and 80 °C. Finally, the fatigue life prediction model at different temperatures was constructed by combining the fatigue life test results. The results indicate a correlation between crack propagation characteristics and fatigue life predictions across different operating temperatures, with the predictions agreeing well with the measured life. The models can be used to analyze early fracture behavior or fatigue life prediction of rubber at different operating temperatures and minimize the need for extensive product testing prior to the manufacture of rubber products.