Electrochemical degradation in rubber

Micrographs are shown of some typical types of structural damage that can occur in a vulcanisate as a result of electrochemical degradation (ecd) in the material. the importance of the carbon black content,the operating temperature,the coolant composition,a vulcanisates cure system and other compound ingredients on the size of the current that can flow through a vulcanisate and its impact on ecd were discussed as well as the effects of crosslink density on volume resistivity and current flow. results from sem x-ray analysis of ecd damaged material on the depletion of zinc and sulphur by ecd and the associated effects on current flow through a compound are also discussed.