Questions of the modification of polymers, including elastomers, are increasingly attracting the attention of researchers in the context of purposeful change in the functional properties of the materials. To produce highquality rubbers, it is often sufficient to modify already existing materials.The good service properties of offset rubbers are among the main factors ensuring a high quality of print. Offset rubber sheets consist of several layers of cotton fabric interlayers impregnated with synthetic isoprene rubber, joined during vulcanisation with an outer layer of nitrile rubber of 0.7-0.05 mm thickness [1][2][3][4]. During printing, the rubber material is continuously subjected to mechanical and chemical effects. The chemical processes occurring under the action on the surface of the rubber material of inks, solvents, and atmospheric conditions lead to a change in the properties of the rubber, to the appearance of microcracks, and to the curing of the surface layer. In turn, the external mechanical effects accelerate the chemical processes occurring in the rubber and thereby promote acceleration of the ageing process [5].The main requirements laid down for offset sheets are: a mat, even surface taking up ink well from the plate and possibly transferring its print more fully; the absence of mechanical damage on the surface of the offset sheet; under the action of ink solvents and wash solutions, the upper layer should not soften, dissolve, or peel away from the base [6]. The rubber-fabric blankets should be elastic in order to compensate for microunevennesses of the printing plate and the material being printed upon, and for indentation on contact with crumpled areas, bands of protective hydrophilic colloid not washed from the plate. After compression, they should recover rapidly, returning to their original state. Such a property is possessed by microporous compressible multilayer rubber-fabric blankets.During operation, the surface of the offset blankets periodically undergoes the action of pressure in the zone of contact with the printing plate or paper, friction during slip in the zones of contact, and the abrasive action of the paper dust and particles formed by wear of the printing plate and blanket. Plate wear is determined mainly by effects of slip, i.e. the sheets wear chiefly on account of abrasion. During printing, frictional interaction occurs between the surface layer of the offset sheet and the moving paper or ink which are pressed down by the roller to the rubber layer. Therefore, the tribotechnical characteristics of offset sheets (the friction coefficient and the intensity of wear) are extremely important for printing processes.In view of the fact that offset sheets are a very expensive imported material, it is expedient to subject their surface to physicochemical modification to improve plate life and increase durability. After modification of the offset sheets, the surface layer should possess good ink wettability and high wear resistance.On the basis of published data and preliminary tests...
