Quote:
Originally Posted by marsheng
I should have included the article, but it is anecdotal. Has the rubber "flowed" into this new shape ? Has it been bent past its yield point ? What has actually physically happened to the rubber. Can it flow like glass does over 50 years ?
The only time I have seen flat spotting is when the car has stood for many years and the rubber has perished and the tire is no longer usable.
I am being a bit provoking here so we think outside the square, but I'm happy to be educated with the physical parameters of what actually happens.
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Well..sticking with the "outside the square" mentality, rubber IS an amorphous solid and therefore would (in theory) "flow" like glass....however modern tires are not primarily rubber (contains several other polymers) therefore I suppose the question then would be...would the total composition of a modern tire still be considered an amorphous solid, and if so, what properties does the new compound represent as compared to natural rubber?
My knee-jerk answer (based on no information whatsoever, lol) is that a modern tire would degrade in structure well before any actual transference of mass (ie permanent flat spot) would occur due to the compounded material and advancements in materials science...and additionally the competition between tire manufactures to create the "best" compounds.
As always, looking forward to being proven wrong.
