Electron-beam modification of nitrile butadiene rubber in the fore-vacuum pressure range

Abstract

Abstract We have studied the modification of nitrile butadiene rubber surface properties by pulsed and by continuous electron beams generated in inert (argon, helium) and in chemically active (oxygen, nitrogen, air) gas atmosphere in the fore-vacuum range of pressure (∼10 Pa). Relative measurements of the wear rate, friction coefficient, and contact (wetting) angle of the sample surfaces before and after beam treatment have been made. We have found that the electron-beam treatment of nitrile butadiene rubber does not result in any significant thermal damage to its surface, and that dependencies of the coefficient of friction and the wear rate on the surface treatment duration have a non-monotonic character. For optimal electron beam treatment conditions, the friction coefficient decreases by a factor of about two.