The equation of state of a fluorinated tripolymer

The Hugoniot of the fluorinated tripolymer Viton B has been quantified in terms of shock stress, shock velocity, and particle velocity. The shock velocity - particle velocity curve was found to be linear, thus suggesting no changes in phase occurred in the experimental stress range investigated. Comparisons of the calculated hydrodynamic pressures and measured stresses also showed close agreement, with only small differences apparent at the highest stresses. It is believed that this shows Viton B has a low shock-induced shear strength that only becomes significant at high impact stresses. Comparison of the Hugoniots of Viton B, polytetrafluroethylene, and polyvinylidene difluoride shows that the former is slightly steeper. The authors suggest that this is due to the -CF ₃ side group having a strengthening effect.