Tunable Mechanical Properties and Sound Transmission Mechanism of Eucommia Ulmoides Gum as a Hydroacoustic Material

Gao Pan; Fan-Zhu Li; Ji-Chuan Zhang; Li Liu

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3854-8

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Tunable Mechanical Properties and Sound Transmission Mechanism of Eucommia Ulmoides Gum as a Hydroacoustic Material

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-11-04

- Tunable Mechanical Properties and Sound Transmission Mechanism of Eucommia Ulmoides Gum as a Hydroacoustic Material
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Pages: 1-15(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.College of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
  b.Key Laboratory of Beijing City on Preparation and Processing of Novel Polymer Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
- Author bio：
  
  lifz@buct.edu.cn (F.Z.L.)
  liul@buct.edu.cn (L.L.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3854-8
  CLC：
- Received：18 June 2026，
  
  Accepted：17 August 2026，
  
  Online First：04 November 2026，
  
  Published：2026-09
- Accepted：
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Pan, G.; Li, F. Z.; Zhang, J. C.; Liu, L. Tunable mechanical properties and sound transmission mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides gum as a hydroacoustic material. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3854-8

Gao Pan, Fan-Zhu Li, Ji-Chuan Zhang, et al. Tunable Mechanical Properties and Sound Transmission Mechanism of Eucommia Ulmoides Gum as a Hydroacoustic Material[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-15.
Pan, G.; Li, F. Z.; Zhang, J. C.; Liu, L. Tunable mechanical properties and sound transmission mechanism of Eucommia ulmoides gum as a hydroacoustic material. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3854-8 DOI：

Gao Pan, Fan-Zhu Li, Ji-Chuan Zhang, et al. Tunable Mechanical Properties and Sound Transmission Mechanism of Eucommia Ulmoides Gum as a Hydroacoustic Material[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-15. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3854-8.

摘要

Abstract

Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) is a highly crystalline rubber featuring high modulus and low damping at room temperature

making it a promising underwater acoustic material. However

its complex aggregate structure cannot be fully interpreted using conventional acoustic theories. This study investigates EUG’s mechanical and acoustic transparency regulation mechanisms. Tuning crosslinking density effectively regulates crystallinity and tailors its stress-strain behavior. With rising crosslinking density

EUG’s sound transmission first rises

then falls and finally stabilizes at the low frequency of 3.0–7.5 kHz

while it rises

declines and rebounds at the high frequency of 10–30 kHz. EUG with 3 phr sulfur delivers average transmission coefficients of 0.980 (low frequency) and 0.944 (high frequency). The sound transmission mechanism was explored from the perspectives of grain boundary acoustic loss and acoustic wave propagation. A "block unit" model was proposed to further explain the underlying mechanism. Micro-interface impedance mismatch is

a key factor affecting sound transmission. The propagation of sound waves in rubber exhibits a distinct scale effect. Low-frequency waves propagate mainly

via

elastic crosslinked networks

whereas high-frequency transmission relies on the competition between network elasticity and chain segment viscosity. Fluid–structure interaction simulations further characterize structural stiffness of acoustic components. This study offers new insights for designing underwater acoustic materials.

关键词

Keywords

references

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