Friction of rubber in water

Roberts A.D., . Friction of rubber in water. pp. 18-21. ISSN 0035-9483

Sophisticated fire equipment using hydraulic water systems for use in isolated areas such as mines or aircraft for example must be failsafe. These hydraulic water systems contain rubber seals which are prone to wear and tear and therefore failure. Research at the Tun Abdul Razak Research Center may point the way to a fairly simple solution using a natural rubber compound for the seals. Dr. Alan Roberts Deputy Director of MRPRA has been working on the frictional properties of natural rubber for many years. He has shown from measurements made of water lubricated friction of vulcanized natural rubber sliding against glass and against itself that the level of friction is sensitive to the acidity/alkalinity of the water. The friction of natural rubber was markedly less at pH values greater than nine. The effect is believed to be due to the presence of the non rubbers in natural rubber; evidance points to the fatty acids as being the 'active' component. The effect has not been observed for synthetic polyisoperene. The following results are taken from a paper titled 'Friction of rubber lubricated by aqueous solutions of different acidity/alkalinity' by Dr A.D. Roberts and Dr S.C. Richards. The full paper appeared in the Journal of Natural Rubber Research volume 9 no 3. pages 190-204 (MRPRA Publication 1535).

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Abstract

Sophisticated fire equipment using hydraulic water systems for use in isolated areas such as mines or aircraft for example must be failsafe. These hydraulic water systems contain rubber seals which are prone to wear and tear and therefore failure. Research at the Tun Abdul Razak Research Center may point the way to a fairly simple solution using a natural rubber compound for the seals. Dr. Alan Roberts Deputy Director of MRPRA has been working on the frictional properties of natural rubber for many years. He has shown from measurements made of water lubricated friction of vulcanized natural rubber sliding against glass and against itself that the level of friction is sensitive to the acidity/alkalinity of the water. The friction of natural rubber was markedly less at pH values greater than nine. The effect is believed to be due to the presence of the non rubbers in natural rubber; evidance points to the fatty acids as being the 'active' component. The effect has not been observed for synthetic polyisoperene. The following results are taken from a paper titled 'Friction of rubber lubricated by aqueous solutions of different acidity/alkalinity' by Dr A.D. Roberts and Dr S.C. Richards. The full paper appeared in the Journal of Natural Rubber Research volume 9 no 3. pages 190-204 (MRPRA Publication 1535).

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Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Summary (En)
AGROVOC Term:	CAUCHO
AGROVOC Term:	ROZAMIENTO
AGROVOC Term:	AGUA
AGROVOC Term:	PH
AGROVOC Term:	ACIDOS GRASOS
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:51
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/17228

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