Effects of Chemical Surface Modification of Carbon Black on Vulcanization and Mechanical Properties of Styrene - Butadiene Rubber Compound

Abstract

To see the effect of chemical surface modification, the carbon black surfaces were treated with three types of chemicals (KOH, H₃PO₄, and benzene). Vulcanization and mechanical properties of a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) were investigated depending on the chemical treatments. The surface free energy increased considerably with the treatments by both the acid (HCB) and base (KCB), but only a slight increase was observed for benzene treatment(BCB). The BCB showed the highest level of the London dispersive component. The vulcanization reaction was found to be faster in the order of KCB-SBR$gt;BCB-SBR$gt;VCB-SBR(virgin)$gt;HCB-SBR. The difference in minimum and maximum torque of rheocurve, representing the degree of crosslinking, was found to be higher for the BCB-SBR compared to those of VCB-SBR, KCB-SBR, and HCB-SBR. The BCB-SBR and KCB-SBR showed the improved tensile and dynamic mechanical properties. A linear relationship was found to exist between the London dispersive component of surface free energy and mechanical properties.