Filler-Elastomer Interactions. 3. Microstructures and Mechanical Interfacial Properties of Anodized Carbon Black/Rubber Composites

The effect of electrochemical surface treatments in KOH chemical solution on microstructures of carbon blacks was investigated in terms of surface functional values and XRD measurements. And their mechanical interfacial properties of the carbon blacks/rubber composites were studied by the composite tearing energy ($G_{IIIC}$). It was found that the development of basic-surface functional groups lead to the significant physical changes of carbon blacks, such as, decrease of the interlayer spacing ($d_{002}$), increase of the crystalline size along c-axis ($L_c$), and increase of degree of crystalline (${\chi}_c$). This treatment is possibly suitable for carbon blacks to be incorporated in a hydrocarbon rubber matrix, resulting in improving the hardness and tearing energy of the resulting composites.