On Thermodynamics and Kinetic Theory of Ideal Rubber Membranes

Abstract

Based on experimental evidence and thermodynamics it will be shown that the stored energy function of an ideal rubber membrane is determined by the entropy alone. The membrane is represented by a two-dimensional surface for the purposes of thermodynamics, and its thickness is taken into account by a scalar parameter so that incompressibility of the membrane can be described. The entropy of the membrane is calculated from a kinetic model and hence results the surface stress as a function of temperature and deformation for arbitrary shape of the membrane.