The Absorption of Moisture by Hard Rubber

A study is being made of the effects of relative humidity and electric fields on moisture absorption by hard rubber. A specimen of hard rubber is suspended in a constant temperature box from the beam of a sensitive chainomatic balance. The relative humidity of the box is varied by placing sulphuric acid of various concentrations in the box. The rubber specimen is suspended between two brass electrodes which are attached to a 10,000 volt transformer. At 100 per cent humidity the effect of the electric field is to increase the rate of moisture absorption at first and later to diminish it. At 70 per cent humidity the electric field seemed to be without effect