THE EFFECT OF CARBON FILLERS ON ELASTOMER COMPOSITE PROPERTIES

The aim of this work was to obtain elastomer composite filled with carbon fillers with different structure. Three types of carbon black were used as reinforcing fillers: FET N550, Colour Black FW200, Printex XE2B. In order to improve dispersion of fillers, different dispersing agents were used: anionic, cationic, nonionic and ionic liquids. As an elastomer matrix the acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) was used. The fillers were characterized by dibutylphtalate (DBP) absorption analysis, aggregates size, rheological properties of filler suspensions and Zeta potential analysis. The compounding was carried out in a laboratory rolling mill. Samples were prepared through the vulcanization process at 160 degrees C. The vulcanization kinetics of rubber compounds, crosslink density, mechanical properties, hysteresis losses, conductive and thermal properties of vulcanizates were also measured. In order to characterize filler dispersion in elastomer matrix the SEM images were obtained.