The Effect of Acrylonitrile Content on the Abrasion Behavior of Unfilled Nitrile Rubber

Three unfilled nitrile rubber vulcanizates with different acrylonitrile contents (28%, 33%, and 40%) were prepared. The gravimetric wear rate of testing samples increased with increasing acrylonitrile contents. The cross-linking densities of rubbers were studied by the equilibrium swelling method. The measurement of the dissipated energy between tip and rubber surface was also carried out using tapping mode atomic force microscopy and the results suggest that the cross-linking density in local areas is primary responsible to the abrasion performance of unfilled nitrile rubber with reference to the polarity of polymeric matrix.