Chains and filler network damage were investigated during single and multiple cycles on a series of vulcanized EPDM containing various filler contents. In both series of experiments, a strain and a filler ratio transitions for damage mechanisms were identified. For low filler content (≤40 phr), damage mechanisms mostly occur in the elastically active rubber network consistent with the chains network alteration theory associated with irreversible chains scission/bond breakage. For high filler content (>40 phr), a strain transition occurs with damage initially located in the elastically active rubber network, but subsequently localizes in the vicinity of the filler-filler network. This is ascribed to filler re-aggregation with strain, improving its load-bearing capacity, that may release the immobilized rubber formed by the chains that are occluded and bonded to fillers. During cyclic experiments, such reversible release involving loss of weak physical bonds and chains slippage yields in a progressive cavity closing with cyclic accumulation that prevents further irreversible damage of the elastically active rubber network.

在一系列包含各种填料含量的硫化三元乙丙橡胶中，在单个和多个循环中研究了链和填料网络的损坏。在这两个系列的实验中，均确定了破坏机制的应变和填充比过渡。对于低填料含量（≤40 phr），破坏机理主要发生在弹性活性橡胶网中，这与不可逆链断裂/键断裂相关的链网改变理论相符。对于较高的填料含量（> 40 phr），会发生应变转变，最初位于弹性活性橡胶网络中，但随后位于填料-填料网络附近。这归因于填料的重新聚集和应变，从而提高了其承重能力，可能会释放被闭塞并与填料键合的链形成的固定橡胶。在循环实验过程中，这种可逆释放涉及弱的物理键的丧失和链滑移，在具有循环积累的渐进式腔体闭合中产生，从而防止了弹性活性橡胶网络的进一步不可逆转的破坏。