Effects of Surface Treatment of Carbon Black by Polymerization Compounding on Rheological Behaviour of Carbon Black Composites

Treatment of carbon black (CB) through polymerization compounding not only increases the adhesion between polymer and CB but also helps to disperse CB into a viscous matrix with existing equipment. Polymerization compounding was used to graft poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) chains on the CB. Scanning electron micrographs suggest a strong interaction between the polymer and the treated CB. The rheological properties of poly(ethylene oxide)(PEO) composites containing treated CB and untreated CB at four levels CB (5, 10, 20 and 30% by wt) were studied. The complex viscosity of the composites containing up to 10% of treated CB was found to be smaller than that of the polymer matrix and considerably smaller than that of composites containing untreated CB. The elastic characteristic time based on the ratio of storage and loss modulus was found to be approximately independent of the CB content and of the surface treatment.