**5. Conclusions**

The application of SEM and AFM methods to visualize topography of surfaces and sections of investigated silicone rubber composites with schungit and silica SIPERNAT 360 fillers allowed direct observation of changes in the internal structure of fillers in composite elastomers in the micro- and nanometer range. The correlation of these results with the physical-mechanical properties of the composites is important for the development of the basic principles of reinforcement material strengths. The preliminary direct numerical calculations within the framework of the cluster quantum-chemical approximation of the schungit nanostructure and its components, predicting the effectiveness of its use as a filler in elastomers proved to be valuable for conducting these experiments. The presented experimental results show both theoretical and practical significance of the quantum-chemical approach proposed for computer selection of components for elastomeric composites and ways of modifying their fillers in order to predict the technologies for obtaining materials with improved strength characteristics. This developed computational technique can be applied in similar problems of designing new advanced materials.
