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

Thermooxidative degradation of thick-walled rubber materials is dependent on oxygen diffusion. The oxidative degradation ceases due to a lower permeability of oxygen through the oxidized material formed at the rubber surface. This phenomenon indicates a paradoxical effect of antioxidant loading. Since antioxidants prevent oxidation, antioxidants also 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 photografting, suitable for such surface modifications are described. (C) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.