Influence of antifriction fillers on the surface properties of elastomers based on propylenoxide rubbers

Novel compositions of frost-resistant rubbers (elastomers) are investigated. The possibilities of modifying the basic elastomer using several different fillers are studied. A PTFE-based filler (Forum), technical carbon (TC), and graphene oxide (GO) are tested as fillers. Mechanical, tribological, and microscopic investigations (SEM with elemental analysis and an atomic force microscope (AFM) using different modes) are performed. In order to investigate the operating parameters of these samples, the sample surface was studied before and after the friction tests. The surface topography and the distribution of individual elements over the surface are estimated. Microscopic sections of the samples are studied to obtain information concerning the bulk distribution of the chemical elements. It is shown that the use of fillers such as Forum and technical carbon leads to a better result when they are used together. Their elastic, viscous, and adhesive properties are studied using AFM (the force curve mode—“force-distance curve” and the force modulation mode—“magnitude-distance curve”). It is shown that a distinctive feature of rubber samples having the best tribological properties consists of an increase in rigidity and a decrease in adhesion in the course of tribological testing.