Carbon Black Structure Effects in Synthetic Rubbers

Abstract

Carbon blacks are composed of spherical particles which are to varying degrees arranged in chainlike structures. This type of particle association, which is readily seen in electron photomicrographs of most carbon blacks, can be termed “primary structure”. The use of the term “structure” to describe interparticle association must not be confused with the basic intraparticle structure of an atomic crystallographic nature. There is strong evidence that primary structure units, and possibly individual particles, can further associate or flocculate in fluid or elastomeric systems. This is a secondary type of structure formation which can be readily disrupted under the influence of mechanical strain. Some investigators have used the term “structure” to describe this strain-sensitive flocculation behavior. It is suggested here that carbon blacks possess both primary structure features and the ability to form secondary structures by flocculation in dispersed systems. The tendency to form secondary structures is probably greater with carbon blacks possessing a high degree of primary structure. Unless otherwise specified, the term “structure” in this paper will be used in the sense of primary structure. The structure of carbon blacks is thought to originate in the flame by the agglomeration of growing carbon nuclei and particles. The appearance of electron micrographs of carbon blacks lends some support to the assumption of simultaneous agglomeration and growth processes. Carbon blacks having a broad particle size distribution are characterized by carbon black chains, where each chain is composed of particles of the same size, rather than a randomized distribution of various sized carbon black particles. Thus, these chainlike structures must result from the continued growth of agglomerates formed from neighboring carbon particles at the same stage of their growth history. This process results in a chemical fusing of these particles as layers of new carbon are deposited on the surfaces of actively growing agglomerates.