On characterizing microscopically the adhesion interphases with humidity aging time for the adhesion between brass-plated steel cords and rubber compounds by Auger Electron Spectroscopy and FE-SEM

Abstract

The effect of humidity aging time of adhesion samples made up of brass-plated steel cord and rubber compound on the adhesion interphase was studied by the depth profiling of Auger electron spectroscopy and FE-SEM. It was shown that humidity aging time of adhesion samples played major role of formation, growth and deterioration of copper sulfide and zinc oxide at the adhesion interphase with increased humidity aging time of adhesion samples. The adhesion interphase of adhesion sample after cure appeared the spherical shape whereas that after humidity aging treatment appeared the needle-like shape from FE-SEM analyses. The adhesion stability of adhesion samples against humidity aging treatment may be related to the suppression of the excessive growth of copper sulfide and the inhibition of dezincification during humidity aging time. Copyright © 2018 VBRI Press.