Physico-mechanical behavior of carbon black-infused polymer composite

This article deals with the development of polymer composites by incorporating carbon blacks (CBs) into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix material for improving the mechanical and physical properties of the polymer composites. CBs of nano-size were used as filler material in varying volume percentages (5–25%), and the polymer composite was processed by solution casting method. Density, elastic modulus and hardness were measured in order to study the effect of the CB-reinforced PDMS matrix. Experimentally obtained mechanical properties were then compared with the standard empirical model. Density of the polymer composite was increased by five times as compared to the pure polymer material. With the increase in volume percentage of CB, both hardness and elastic modulus of the polymer composites were enhanced. Scanning electron microscope images of the composite material showed uniform distribution of CBs, implying strong binding with the matrix material, which attributed to improved mechanical properties.