Rubber Abrasion Test with Paper Tape

The hypothesis of oxidative and fatigue abrasion phenomena as the major cause of tire tread wear in normal operation has led to development of a laboratory test machine for which low severity, obtained by using paper tape as abrading material, and full temperature control are outstanding characteristics. Good uniformity and reproducibility of abrasion are obtained if proper care is taken. Proof of the basic theory and of its applicability to such a machine has been obtained through a survey of the effects of antioxidants in compounds and of test temperature variation. Application of this test method to tire tread compounds has given fair results here it has been possible to establish testing conditions sufficiently related to those in road tests. When these latter include a large range of severities, comparisons are less favorable and further study is being made to try to accommodate such cases.