Wear Resistant Rubber Tank Track Pads
Abstract
Certain chemical heat stabilizers provided a significant reduction in heat buildup to various experimental track pad vulcanizates while others provided a significant improvement in tear resistance at 250F. Although the resistance to heat buildup through the use of wire cloth may be improved in some cases the use of wire cloth in track pads is not feasible because of the chunking and delamination problems associated with its use under dynamic conditions. Blending natural or synthetic natural rubber with SBR 1500, Stereon 750, HYTRANS or SBR/polybutadiene improved the resistance to abrasion, tear, and crack growth in most cases. An EPDM/pale crepe blended vulcanizate had significantly improved resistance to abrasion and crack growth when compared to a vulcanizate prepared from EPDM only, but tear resistance was poorer. Blending Stereon 750 or HYTRANS elastomers with fast-curing EPDM and brominated butyl provided no significant improvement in resistance to tear, abrasion, or crack growth when compared to the originally developed Stereon 750 and HYTRANS base compounds. The addition of Santoweb D fibers to various experimental track pad compounds had an adverse effect on the resistance to crack growth. A summary is included of the efforts of the past 13 years in attempting to improve the wear resistance of rubber track pads. The average service life of pads was approximately 1200-2000 miles when this work was begun. On the basis of service tests conducted on experimental compounds developed during this study, it is reasonably certain that a 3500 mile pad is now a reality.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1975
- Accession Number
- ADB013353
Entities
People
- Edward W. Bergstrom