Abstract
The possibility of using ‘Belum’ chemically modified hydroxycellulose carbon fibres (CFs) to improve the wear resistance of elastomer composites was studied. Comminuted Belum fibres with a length of the main fraction of 50–100 μm were used. Chemical modification of the CFs was carried out in electric discharge plasma in a medium of organofluorine compounds, as a result of which prepolymer coatings were formed with a thickness of several tens of nanometres, similar in chemical composition to polyetrafluoroethylene. The microstructure of the modified CFs was investigated by electron microscopy. It was shown that the introduction of modified Belum-grade CFs leads to an increase in the wear resistance of elastomer composites based on SKF-26 fluorine-containing rubber. It was also shown that there is an improvement in the ageing resistance, measured from the change in 20% compression set at temperatures of 100, 125, 150, and 200°C. Comparative bench tests revealed considerable advantages of different types of moving seal manufactured using modified Belum CFs. Service tests of articles manufactured from rubbers of the experimental composition also showed positive results. The mechanism of the influence of plasma modification is discussed.
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