Influence of Slip Angle on Abrasion Behavior of NR/BR Vulcanizates

Abrasion tests of model tire tread compounds (NR and NR/BR blend compounds) were performed at different slip angles (1 degrees and 7 degrees) using a laboratory abrasion tester. The abrasion behavior was investigated by analyzing the worn sur-face and wear particles. The abrasion spacing formed on the specimen worn at the large slip angle of 7 degrees was significantly narrower than that at the small slip angle of 1 degrees, while the abrasion depth for the specimen worn at 7 degrees was lower than that at 1 degrees. The abrasion spacing and depth tended to be narrower and lower, respectively, as the BR content increased. The abra-sion patterns were clearly visible on the outside of the specimen for the slip angle of 1 degrees but not for 7 degrees. The wear particles had a rough surface and there were numerous micro-bumps. It was found that the crosslink density affected the abrasion patterns and morphologies of the wear particles.