ABSTRACT
Silicon carbide nanoparticles (nano-SiC), in the amounts of 0, 3, and 5 parts per hundred of rubber (phr), were employed in a butadiene rubber (BR) based compound as a potential commercial rubber and the structure, mechanical, tribological and thermal properties of the samples were investigated. The use of 3 phr of nano-SiC, especially in the presence of silane, increased the crosslink density and improved the tensile strength (35%) and elongation at break (64%) of the BR. In addition; the abrasion resistance of the BR was improved about 120% and the coefficient of friction increased. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images revealed the use of silane resulted in an appropriate dispersion of the nano-SiC and improvement of its interaction with the matrix. The use of nano-SiC, especially with silane, increased the initial thermal decomposition temperature of the BR and decreased its rate of degradation.
Acknowledgement
The authors thank Sapco Co. for providing facilities for carrying out some of the tests.