MACHINE MODELING AND SIMULATIONS, Machine Modelling and Simulatioms 2024

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The effect of plasma treatment on microstructure, roughness and curing of rubber blend
Mariana Pajtášová, Silvia Ďurišová, Darina Ondrušova, Zuzana Mičicová, Slavomíra Božeková, Ivan Labaj, Róbert Janík, Simona Lokšíková

Last modified: 27. 06. 2024

Abstract


Here the effect of plasma treatment on the properties of the rubber mixture was studied. The plasma treatment was carried out using diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) in the ambient air and atmosphere. The plasma treatment was performed using multiple exposure times at a selected distance between the plasma electrode and the rubber surface. The micromorphology of plasma-treated rubber surfaces has been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Topography and roughness have been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Rheology and curing were studied using a rubber process analyzer (PRPA 2000 Alpha Technologies) at 160°C and 30 min. In terms of rheology and curing studies after plasma treatment, minimum torque, maximum torque, optimal curing time, burning time and curing rate index were evaluated. The plasma treatment caused more or less significant changes in the topography of the rubber surface and a slight increase in roughness, created cracks on the rubber surface and introduced oxidation on the rubber surface during all exposure times. Finally, plasma treatment resulted in a reduction in optimal curing time, which could lead to possible application inside the rubber industry where a higher curing rate is required without changing the composition of the rubber compound. This work was supported by the Scientific Grant Agency - VEGA 1/0265/24, KEGA 001TnUAD-4/2022 and the Operational Programme Integrated Infrastructure, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund project: Development and support of research and development for the "Centre of Diagnostics and Testing of Quality of Materials" in domains of specialization RIS3 SK, acronym: CEDITEK II., ITMS2014+ code 313011W442.