SURFACE MODIFICATION AND STABILIZATION OF RUBBER MATERIALS - PLASMA POLYMERIZATION AND PHOTOGRAFTING

Thermooxidative degradation of thick-walled rubber materials is depend ent on oxygen diffusion. The oxidative degradation ceases due to a low er permeability of oxygen through the oxidized material formed at the rubber surface. This phenomenon indicates a paradoxical effect of anti oxidant loading. Since antioxidants prevent oxidation, antioxidants al so prevent the formation of the protective oxidized layer. This paper suggests and explores an attempt to stabilize polymer materials using surface-modification techniques in order to form an oxygen permeation barrier at the surface. Two techniques, plasma polymerization and phot ografting, suitable for such surface modifications are described. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.