Abstract
This paper reports a simple and cost-effective procedure to coat hydrogenated nitrile butadiene rubber (HNBR) with a well-adherent Ni-P film by using the electroless plating method. A HNBR surface functionalization process was first optimized, creating an interpenetrating network with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). Silver nanoparticles were deposited on PVP and acted as catalysts for the Ni-P film deposition, eliminating the expensive tin-palladium sensitization/activation step. A homogeneous, low phosphorous Ni-P film was obtained after 60–120 min of plating in an alkaline bath, with an average thickness of 3 to 10 µm, respectively. The PVP internetwork played an important role on the strong adhesion of the film, 1.0 ± 0.5 MPa. The tribological behavior of Ni-P-plated HNBR samples was studied for 1, 5 and 10 N applied loads under dry sliding on a pin-on-disc configuration and the coefficient of friction (CoF) was reduced by ~30–49%, compared to uncoated HNBR (loads 1–5N). Based on these results, Ni-P-coated rubber can be regarded as a novel solution for enhancement of the tribological behavior of dynamic seals; it can be regarded as a means to avoid machinery failure. This method offers an alternative to the diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings.
Highlights
Machinery failure is still one of the most common occurrences that causes substantial inconveniences in any industry that depends on the reliable function of the machines, either inside the factory operation or postproduction inside the customers’ homes.Mechanical sealants represent 20–60% of machinery failure [1] causing unwanted leakage of corrosive processing fluids, accidents and turning the machine obsolete
The HBNR sheet was cut into 35 × 12 mm samples which were manually abraded with emery paper mesh 600, until approximately 0.5 mm were removed from both sides
Sample was functionalized to provide surface groups with interpenetrating affinity to the metal to be (SPIN). This stepsurface was carried out by following a modified surface physical network. This step was carried by outDesai by following a modified surface physical interpenetrating network (SPIN)
Summary
Machinery failure is still one of the most common occurrences that causes substantial inconveniences in any industry that depends on the reliable function of the machines, either inside the factory operation or postproduction inside the customers’ homes. Mechanical sealants represent 20–60% of machinery failure [1] causing unwanted leakage of corrosive processing fluids, accidents and turning the machine obsolete. More often than not the seal selection falls upon elastomers for economic reasons and because their intrinsic characteristics provide an efficient sealing action [2]. Frictional heating can accelerate chemical and thermal degradation. For this reason, the design of dynamic seals must be optimized to the specific application in need
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