An improved laboratory test method for the abrasion of rubber is sugge
sted based on a modified version of the previous blade abraders. In th
e modified apparatus, a constant normal load N, is applied to the knif
e blade, which is mounted and fixed over a frictionless linear slider
by means of a pulley and string system such that the knife blade can p
ress the fiat surface of a rotating rubber disk, and the frictional to
rque, M, is monitored and measured during each measurement. A precise
potentiometer is used to measure the displacement, d, of the knife axi
s, and the measured values are carefully examined to assess whether th
ey can be used as an alternative way of determining the rate of wear o
f rubber. The rates of wear from the newly designed abrader were found
to be in good agreement with those of the previous results when they
were compared in terms of functional work input, W-f, for some selecte
d rubber compounds: unfilled polybutadiene (FBR), unfilled natural rub
ber (UNR), and filled polybutadiene (FBR). It was also found that the
direct measurement of the displacement of knife at-is can be used as a
n alternative test method of the abrasion of rubber, instead of the co
nventional way of measuring the weight loss. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science
Ltd. All rights reserved.