Study of the Topography and Properties of Surface Layers of Frost-ResistantRubber Modified by Carbon Nanotubes
The possibilities of creating new type frost-resistant rubbers by using carbon nanotubes as filler-modifiers for an elastomeric base (epichlorohydrin rubber) were studied. Samples with a nanotube content of 1 and 10% were compared with the initial unmodified sample. Tribological tests were performed. The method of electron microscopy (with elemental analysis) was used to study the initial sample and the samples after tribological tests. The method of scanning probe microscopy was used to study surface topography and physicomechanical properties (modulus of elasticity and adhesion). The addition of carbon nanotubes to the elastomer was shown to stabilize its composition and to result in the structuring of the elastomeric base. The study of the sample slices prepared after tribological testing made it possible to distinguish different areas: thin “surface” (thickness 10–15 μm) and “near-surface” layers. A strong redistribution of elements was detected, i.e., the concentration of sulfur and zinc increased significantly on the surface. It was shown that during tribological tests, the main changes occurred mostly in the surface layers, while the near-surface layers changed not so significantly. The addition of carbon nanotubes was found to result in an increase in the elastic modulus in the near-surface layers.