Verification of the probability of elastomers degradation in natural environments

Abstract A wide range of elastomers allows to manufacture products that meet high demands of consumers. They are prepared from a mixture of several rubbers, rubber chemicals, additives and reinforcing materials (fibres), which allows you to obtain the desired properties of the products. The other components of rubber compounds are fillers, carbon blacks and plasticizers. Rubber chemicals supplement the mixture in small quantities of related products, which affect vulcanization and regulate their properties, so they have an irreplaceable role in the preparation of rubber products. The aim of experimental part is to assess the properties of the degradation environment on samples of rubber composites to change their properties. The result of the performed mechanical tests to evaluate and compare the obtained values of mechanical properties of rubber compounds and to predict the possibility of biological degradation of the tested material.