Improvement of the service properties of elastomer compositions by introduction of carbon nanomaterials

The influence of a carbon nanomaterial obtained in a high-voltage discharge plasma on the endurance of elastomer compositions has been investigated for the first time. The results of these investigations agree with those obtained in determining the parameters of the vulcanization kinetics, conventional tensile strength, relative breaking elongation, and resistance to thermal aging and swelling in liquid hydrocarbon media of highly filled rubbers based on butadiene-nitrile caoutchoucs. To verify the assumed mechanism underlying the action of a carbon nanomaterial on elastomer compositions, the parameters of their vulcanizing network have been determined using the method of equilibrium swelling. It is shown that the introduction of a carbon nanomaterial into polar caoutchouc-based rubber allows one to substantially improve its service characteristics and endurance.