CARBON BLACK HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE CONDUCTING COMPOSITE-MATERIALS.1. STRUCTURAL MODIFICATION OF A CARBON-BLACK BY GASIFICATION IN CARBON-DIOXIDE AND THE EFFECT ON THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF THE COMPOSITE/

Carbon black/polymer composites can be used in a wide variety of appli cations, such as for antistatic shielding. Some of these applications rely on the enhancement of conductivity that the carbon black filler i mparts to the polymer matrix. This study has involved modifying the st ructure and surface functionality of a high structure (H) carbon black by gasification with carbon dioxide, thereby allowing the properties of the corresponding composite to be modified systematically; Partial gasification of the carbon black decreased the room temperature volume resistivity, at the same concentration (wt %) of carbon black in the composite, and decreased the magnitude of the positive temperature coe fficient effect. The results are discussed in terms of a carbon black structure modification and its relation to mechanical and electrical p roperties.