Atomic Force Microscopic Research of Structural Features of Elastomeric Composite Materials Based on Butadiene Nitrile Rubber

Abstract

The influence of hollow corundum microspheres on mechanical properties and wear resistance of nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) with the lowest quantity of acrylonitrile (17-19%) have been studied. Results show that the abrasion resistance increased with increase in filler loadings at the two particle sizes investigated. Research of mechanical properties showed that strength at break decreased, while relative elongation at break increased with increase in microspheres loadings. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to perform high-resolution imaging of surfaces of NBR composites. Microspheres exfoliation from NBR matrix at uniaxial stretching was studied with the use of special device compatible with AFM. The obtained AFM images demonstrate stretched fibrils bonded to the surface of microspheres.