Influence of filler type on wet skid resistance of SSBR/BR composites: Effects from roughness and micro-hardness of rubber surface

The wet skid resistance (WSR) of SSBR/BR(solution styrene–butadiene rubber/butadiene rubber) composites filled with carbon black, silica, and nano-diamond partly replacing carbon black or silica, respectively, was measured with a portable British Pendulum Skid Tester (BPST). A dynamic mechanical thermal analyzer was used to obtain the viscoelasticity of the composites. A 3D scanning white-light interfering profilometer was used and the scratch test performed to characterize surface roughness and micro-roughness, respectively, of the composites. WSR of the silica-filled composite was better than that of the carbon black-filled one, and further enhancement of WSR was obtained by replacing silica with nano-diamond. Tan δ of the composites at 0 °C, 10 Hz, and tensile strain of 2% did not show good correlation with WSR. The surface roughness of the composites had effects on WSR. The scratch test indicated that the higher the hardness of the filler in the composite, the higher the micro-hardness and the better the WSR. Therefore, the surface micro-hardness of the composites is an important factor affecting WSR, besides viscoelasticity and surface roughness.