Effects of filler particles on abrasive wear of elastomer-based composites

Abstract

The effect of filler particulates on the abrasive wear of rubbers was analyzed in a model composite of silicone rubbers filled with glass spheres or glass rods. Depending on the interactions between filler particles and hard abrasive asperities, remarkably different wear features were observed for different sizes of the same filler. For large fillers, where the load-supporting action is provided by the fillers, the wear of the individual filler particle is important during the abrasion of the filled elastomer; as the filler fraction increases, the abrasion is dominated by the wear of the filler particles. When the fillers are comparable in size with the asperity spacing, a mechanism of filler “pull-out” is observed which triggers an accelerated wear rate. For small fillers, where no load-supporting action is offered by the particles, the damage zone model can be used to describe the abrasion. On increasing the aspect ratio of the particles, from spheres to short fibers, the critical filler fraction decreases significantly. The wear resistance of filled rubbers can be improved dramatically by increasing the interface adhesion between the glass fillers and the rubber matrix.