Carbon black surface chemical functions

FIGURE 8.2 Chemical functions on carbon black surface (from Bueche, 1960). 

In attempting to predict the direction that future research in carbon black technology will follow, a review of the literature suggests that carbon black-elastomer interactions will provide the most potential to enhance compound performance. Le Bras demonstrated that carboxyl, phenolic, quinone, and other functional groups on the carbon black surface react with the polymer and provided evidence that chemical crosslinks exist between these materials in vul-canizates (LeBras and Papirer, 1979). Ayala et al. (1990, 1990) determined a rubber-filler interaction parameter directly from vulcanizatemeasurements. The authors identified the ratio a jn, where a = slope of the stress-strain curve that relates to the black-polymer interaction, and n = the ratio of dynamic modulus E at 1 and 25% strain amplitude and is a measure of filler-filler interaction. This interaction parameter emphasizes the contribution of carbon black-polymer interactions and reduces the influence of physical phenomena associated with networking. Use of this defined parameter enabled a number of conclusions to be made ... 

Oxygenated Functions. Oxygenated functions on carbon black surface were observed in the early 1950s [70] and completely characterized by H. P. Boehm in the 1960s [71]. At this time, interaction between carbon black and natural rubber was considered the consequence of chemical reactions between the carbon black surface s acidic groups and basic moieties present in the natural rubber structure [71a]. 

Adsorptiou ou the carbon black surface depends mainly on the geometry of the adsorbate molecules aud their polarizability. Thus, graphitized carbon black is an ideal adsorbent for separation of isomers of similar physical properties but of different geometrical structures, because of its surface homogeneity [18]. Chemical modification of carbon black, on the other hand, enhances specific adsorption affinity by virtue of the presence of different functional groups on its surface [17,19]. 

In the rubber industry the distribution of particle size is considered to be important as it affects the mechanical properties and performance. Aggregate size also varies with particle size. Aggregates can have any shape or morphology. The fundamental property of the filler used in a filled elastomer is the particle size. This affects the reinforcement of elastomer most strongly. One of the sources of reinforcement between the carbon black surface and the rubber matrix is the van der Waals force attraction. Also, rubber chains are grafted onto the carbon black surface by covalent bonds. The interaction is caused by a reaction between the functional group at the carbon black particle surface and free radicals on polymer chains. Hence, filler-rubber interface is made up of complex physical-chemical interaction. The adhesion at the rubber-filler interface also affects the reinforcement of rubber. When the polymer composites are filled with spherical filler (aspect ratio of the particle is equal to unity), the modulus of the composite depends on the modulus, density, size, shape, volume ratio, and number of the incorporated particles. 

It appears from the evolution of the adhesion index that a distinction has to be made between the interactions carbon blacks are able to have with unsaturated or with saturated (or near-to-saturated) elastomers. Thus, the adhesion index of butyl rubber is enhanced upon oxidation of the black, while the reverse is observed with polybutadiene 38). The improvement of the reinforcing ability of carbon black upon oxidation, in the former case, has been interpreted by Gessler 401 as due to chemical interactions of butyl rubber with active functional groups on the solid surface. Gessler, relating the reinforcing characteristics of the oxidized carbon black for butyl rubber to the presence of carboxyl groups on the surface of the filler, postulated a cationic... 

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