Elastomäti

Elastomäti is a term used in materials science to describe a class of materials characterized by an elastic polymer network embedded within a matrix that can be either homogeneous or reinforced. The term blends elasto- from elasticity with a neologism -mäti to denote a matrix-based material. In practice, elastomäti refers to elastomeric matrices—often crosslinked polymers such as silicone, polyurethane, or polybutadiene—enhanced by fillers, fibers, or phase-separated domains that tailor stiffness, damping, and thermal behavior. The resulting materials exhibit high elasticity, good recovery after deformation, and notable energy-dissipation (viscoelastic damping), with a wide tunable range of Young's modulus from a few MPa to several hundred MPa depending on composition and processing. They typically retain performance over a broad temperature range and maintain resilience under cyclic loading.

Processing methods include mixing of the elastomer with reinforcing agents, crosslinking through vulcanization or addition-cure chemistry, and shaping by extrusion, molding, casting, or additive manufacturing. Applications span vibration and impact damping in machinery and buildings, protective gear, soft robotics, flexible electronics, and sports surfaces.

Variants include soft elastomäti, which prioritize large strains and damping, and reinforced elastomäti, which integrate inorganic or fibrous fillers for higher stiffness and strength. The concept remains under active development, with ongoing research into microstructure control, long-term durability, and recyclability. See also elastomer, polymer composite, viscoelastic material.