At what elongation percentage does damage start to occur in rubber?

In the context of rubber and its elastic properties, damage begins to occur when the elongation percentage reaches 2-3%. This range is significant because it marks the transition from the material's elastic behavior, where it can stretch and return to its original shape without permanent deformation, to a zone where the internal structure of the rubber starts to experience micro-damages.

At this level of elongation, the bonds within the rubber begin to be strained beyond their limit, which can result in changes to its microstructure. While rubber is designed to be stretchable, prolonged or excessive elongation beyond this threshold can lead to irreversible changes, such as crack formation, loss of elasticity, and ultimately failure of the material.

Understanding this threshold is crucial in applications involving rubber, as it can help in determining safe operational limits and ensuring the longevity of rubber components in various mechanical systems.