SEM/EDX studies of the influence of a cobalt adhesion promoter on the interface between rubber skim compounds and tire steel cord

The failed interfaces between natural rubber skim compounds and tire steel cord used as tire cord adhesion test (TCAT) specimens have been studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis in order to understand the influence of cobalt boroacylate in the rubber compound as an adhesion promoter. SEM studies indicated a mixture of cohesive failure in the rubber and interfacial failure between the rubber and the brass coating. Cobalt boroacylate leads to more cohesive failure of the rubber (about 88% of the cord area covered by the rubber compared with 73% by the control), due to its degradative effects on rubber. EDX analysis of the failed cord and rubber surfaces at various points gave the concentrations of copper, zinc, cobalt, iron, silicon, sulfur, oxygen, and carbon. Assuming van Ooij's model of interfacial sulfide film formation over the brass (Cu/Zn) layer and analyzing the EDX results, it is clear that the failure occurs at the Cu/Zn and CuxS/ZnS sub-layers.