Tribological consequences of rubber composition and structure – case studies

The paper discusses characteristic features of the structure of elastomers and the composition of rubber. Special attention has been paid to differences in structural organization between polymers and metals. Actually existing, mechanistic theory on the friction of elastomers, together with all its drawbacks has been demonstrated. Based on it, another approach to the interpretation of friction phenomenon – from the point of view of material engineering, has been presented on some examples of our own work. The influence of: 1. composition and structure of macromolecules 2. crosslink density and the composition of crosslink constituting a 3-D network, 3. filler loading, the degree of agglomeration and distribution of its particles, as well as 4. the surface migration of low molecular components of rubber mix and segregation in polymer blends, on the friction and wear of vulcanizates have been discussed.