Elastomeric materials used with a view to their areas of strength and weakness offer many advantages over metals for certain areas of strength engineering applications For example, used as a spring: (1) Rubber can store considerably more energy per unit volume than are metals: (2) Rubber has higher inherent damping characteristics. These reduce the effect of suddenly applied loads, and obviate the need for external dashpot damping devices which are likely to produce high peak forces in the system: (3) Rubber does not corrode: (4) Lubrication maintenance is not required; and (5) Failures in rubber components nearly always occur gradually. Read More
