The effect of moisture on abrasive wear of urethane-containing elastomers

Abstract

An increasing demand for the materials used in the mining industry necessitates extending the service life of polyurethane-type elastomers. This challenge can partially be met through optimal use of these elastomers, with their properties taken into account as dependent on moisture. The problem formulated like that implies the use of polyurethanes under conditions of a wide range of the relative air humidity values during different climatic seasons in different countries. This paper presents the results of a study in the changes in abrasive wear of urethane-containing elastomers (polyurethanes and polyurethane ureas) under moisture conditions. The purpose of the work being to study comparative resistance of different elastomers, chemically structured differently, to abrasive wear, the experiments were carried out as per the techniques standard for rubbers. An increase in stability of abrasive resistance of the elastomers under study, when moistened, was established to be ensured by a higher content of hard segments in polymer chains and stability of domain structures to the action of water. The effect produced by moisture on the properties of the elastomers under study is of nature of temporary plasticization. Generally, the oligoethers-based urethane-containing elastomers are more resistant to moisture than those based on oligoesters, but if the domain structure of an elastomer is unstable by reason of a steric hindrance, the pattern of the phenomenon can vary.