Ask A Scientist Materials Science Archive

  
name         Brittney
status       student
grade        9-12
location     AR

Question -   what is the difference in the rubber band if it is made
from plain rubber and polymers?
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There can be many differences. There are many different types of
polymers -- rubber is also a polymer -- so there can be many differences.
The most obvious difference will be the 'stiffness' of the elastic
material. This is a measure of the force required to stretch the material a
given (small) length. The yield value -- the amount of elongation that will
not return to the initial length after a stress has been applied will also
be different. How the materials behave as the temperature is changed will
also be different.

Vince Calder
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