The Effect of Gamma Radiation on the Ageing of Sulfur Cured Nr/csm and Nbr/csm Rubber Blends Reinforced by Carbon Black*

In this work the effect of the γ-radiation dose on ageing of carbon black reinforced elastomeric materials was studied. The compounds based on natural rubber/chlorosulfonated rubber blend (NR/CSM) and butadiene acrylonitrile rubber/chlorosulfonated rubber blend (NBR/CSM) (50:50, w/w) with different loadings (0, 20, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 phr) of the filler with the average particle size of 40 nm were cured by sulfur. The obtained elastomeric composites were subjected to radiation doses (100, 200, 300 and 400 kGy) in the presence of oxygen. The changes of material mechanical properties were estimated after radiation accelerated ageing. By using Fourier transform infrared measurements (ATR-FTIR) it was assessed that after exposure to doses of 100 kGy alcohols, ethers, lactones, anhydrides, esters and carboxylic acids are formed in materials. The formation of shorter polyene sequences and aromatic rings in aged samples are assumed on the basis of the obtained spectra.