CHEMICAL INTERACTION BETWEEN SURFACE OXIDIZED CARBON-BLACK AND EPOXIDIZED NATURAL-RUBBER

This study-based on Monsanto Rheometer measurements, determination of bound rubber. enthalpy of reaction. solvent swelling studies, and meas urement of physical properties-revealed that the functional groups of intermediate super abrasion furnace (ISAF) carbon black chemically int eract with the epoxidized natural rubber. The extent of interaction is greater in the case of an oxidized grade of ISAF black than the nonox idized grade. Infrared spectral studies show that the interaction betw een the rubber and carbon black leads to chemical bond formation. It i s believed that the oxidized grade of carbon black forms ester-type as well as phenolic ether-type bonds, while the nonoxidized grade forms primarily the phenolic ether-type of linkages.