Effect of Modified Carbon Black on the Processing of NR- and SBR-based Compounds

A simple technique adopted in the laboratory is able to attach flexible, long-chain, aliphatic, fatty acid moiety on the surface of reinforcing carbon black N330. Modified blacks show less bound rubber by comparison with the control, but their better dispersibility effectively outweighs any reduction in polymer–filler interaction resulting from the smaller available surface area. When subjected to strain sweep, compounds containing modified blacks show a slower reagglomeration rate of filler aggregates compared with the control. The lower viscosity of compounds containing modified blacks indicates improved processability.