Rubbers friction coefficients

The friction coefficient is defined as the tangential force acting on a sliding body to the ground reaction force. For rubbers this is a function of the ground pressure. Its dependence has been discussed sufficiently in the literature where it was shown that this is important for soft rubbers on smooth surfaces [2,3], but is of little influence for tire compounds on roads which are always sufficiently rough for the load dependence to be small if not completely absent [4,5]. 

FIGURE 26.2 Master curve of the friction coefficient of an acrylate-butadiene rubber (ABR) gum compound on smooth clean dry glass, referred to room temperature. (From Grosch, K.A., Proc. Roy. Soc., A 274, 21, 1963.)... 

Master curves of the friction coefficient have been obtained for a wide range of rubber compounds on different types of tracks for dry and wet surfaces. 

The shape of the maser curve not only depends on the rubber compound, but also on the surface on which it slides. On dry, clean polished glass the friction master curve for gum rubbers rises from very small values at low log ajv to a maximum which may reach friction coefficients of more than 3 and falls at high log ajv to values which are normally associated with hard materials, i.e., 0.3 shown for an ABR gum compound in Figure 26.2. If the position of the maximum on the log a-fV axis for different gum rubbers is compared with that of their maximum log E frequency curves, a constant length A = 6 X 10 m results which is of molecular dimension, indicating that this is an adhesion process [10]. 

FIGURE 26.12 Friction coefficient of a natural rubber (NR) gum compound as function of the ice temperature at three different speeds (left) and friction coefficient of four different gum compounds having different glass transition temperatures as function of the ice track temperature at a constant sliding speed of 0.005 m/s. (From Heinz, M. and Grosch, K.A., ACS Spring Meeting, St Antonio, 2005.)... 

Table 15.1. Friction Coefficient Decrease in Russian-Made Rubbers after XeF2 Treatment...

The nontreated rubber samples began losmg the initial friction coefficient value during this test after 0.5 h... 

Table 7 Relaxation time (t), self-diffusion coefficient (D), and monomer friction coefficient (Co) of unfilled (B) and nanoclay-filled (BCLNA8) BIMS rubber...

The last contribution in the prevailing volume deals with the application of a relatively new class of materials based on the addition of (electron-beam) activated polytetrafhioroethylene (PTFE) powder in rubber matrixes for preparing PTFE-based elastomeric composites. Besides other properties, the remarkably lower friction coefficient of PTFE enables its utilization for tribological applications. However, PTFE in rubbers has not been fully explored mainly due to its inherent chemical inertness and incompatibility. The present work signifies the electron modification of PTFE powder to improve its compatibility with rubber matrixes, the state of the art regarding its application in rubbers, and the preparation of PTFE-based elastomeric composites for several tribological applications. 

The terminal spectrum is furnished by cooperative motions which extend beyond slow points on chain in the equivalent system. The modulus associated with the terminal relaxations is vEkT, which is smaller by a factor of two than the value from a shifted Rouse spectrum. It is consistent with a front factor g = j given by some recent theories of rubber elasticity (Part 7). The terminal spectrum for E 1 has the Rouse spacings for all practical purposes, shifted along the time axis by an undetermined multiplying factor (essentially the slow point friction coefficient). Thus, the model does not predict the terminal spectrum narrowing which is observed experimentally. 

Bhowmick and co-workers [168] investigated the bulk and surface modification of ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber and fluoro-elastomer by electron beam irradiation. The structure of the modified elastomers was analysed with the help of IR spectroscopy and XPS. The gel content, surface energy, friction coefficient and dynamic mechanical properties of bulk modified fluoro-elastomers and the surface-modified EPDMs were also measured. The resultant properties of the modified EPDM were correlated with the structural alterations. 

The coefficient of friction of polyurethanes has been found to be similar to that of rubbers. The coefficient is the resistance to sliding or rolling of the surfaces of two bodies in contact with each other. It has been found that the softer the material, the higher the coefficient of friction. The values vary from 0.2 for the harder grades to approximately 3 for the softer grades. This is thought to be due to the higher actual area of contact between the elastomer and the second surface. A hard material under moderate loads will not deform and follow the surface profile of the second material. The coefficient of friction reaches a maximum at approximately 60°C. 

The high frictional coefficient (0.4 to 0.5 compared with < 0.1 for glass fibers) of asbestos fibers is crucial to its utilization in the frictional lining sector. In the manufacture of brake and clutch linings 20 to 60% asbestos is incorporated together with fillers, metal chips and preferably phenol resins and rubber into a composite material, which has to satisfy many requirements. Currently there are asbestos-free so-called semimetallic brake linings, which consist of mixtures of metal fibers, metal powders, cellulose fibers, aluminum silicate fibers and mineral wool bonded with synthetic resins. 

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