Tensile fractured surfaces of filler-filled NR vulcanizates
were scanned with an electron microscope (FESEM: model
Zeiss Supra 35 VP). The fracture specimens were mounted
on aluminium stubs and sputter-coated with a thin layer of
gold-palladium in order to avoid electrostatic charge and
poor resolution during examination. The SEM images
observed were used to study the mode of fracture and
support the changes in tensile properties.