Stress relaxation in carbon black loaded butyl rubber

The dependence of equilibrium force (F*) on the strain ratio (alpha) of carbon black loaded butyl rubber was studied. The relation between elastic constant and volume fraction of carbon black was found in good agreement with that obtained by Guth and Gold relation at low concentrations using the shape factor (f = 6.5). The relaxation time and viscosity (eta) were calculated by using stress relaxation of these samples at different compression strains. The same agreement was observed in the relation between viscosity and volume fraction of carbon black concentration. The results are discussed according to the dispersion mechanism of carbon black in rubber. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.