Effect of nanotube type and loading level on abrasion resistance
by Paul Pavka, Akron Rubber Development Laboratory
Abrasion resistance of rubbery articles is critically important for many applications, and conveys a sense of quality, is environmentally friendly and helps to reduce costs. There is still room, however, for improvement in understanding the compounding of rubber materials to improve abrasion resistance, as well as in designing and selecting laboratory tests which best predict real world wear. This article will attempt to highlight how changes in rubber compound formulations affect abrasion loss, and how different abrasion tests can give varying results when testing the same compound.