Influence of FEF (N550) Carbon Black on Rheological and Physico-mechanical Properties of SBR Vulcanizate for Tyre Application

A. Murugesan; K. Rajasekaran; M. Ramamoorthy; Vishal Johnson

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the synergistic effect of Fast extrusion furnace black on the rheological, surface morphological and physico-mechanical properties such as tensile strength, hardness and specific gravity of styrene-butadiene synthetic rubber composite. SBR is an elastomer which is an important sort of synthetic rubber. It is a copolymer whose molecular structure primarily consists of organic compound styrene and butadiene chain. Fast extrusion furnace black and high abrasion furnace black are visco-elastic in nature. The rate of FEF load application and temperature has a great influence on its performance. Various fundamental properties of SBR/FEF composite and SBR/HAF composite rheological, surface morphological, curing characteristics such as TS2, Minimum and Maximum Torque, TC90 were evaluated. Also the SBR composite viscosity such as specific viscosity, relative viscosity and reduced viscosity also investigated significantly. The CB load of FEF and HAF were incorporated with SBR matrix and mixed in Two roll mill by varying the Phr level like 0, 10, 20 and 30 respectively. The use of SBR has played an active role in improving the viscoelastic properties of CB. The use of CB with SBR matrix changes the rheological behaviour of SBR composite and therefore it is used for making tyre compounds.Today rubbers are largely used in automotive Industries because of their excellent elastic properties. This is the obvious statement that synthetic rubber compounds are widely used in tires, belting, oil seals and various automotive components. The principal task of synthetic rubber compounding is concerned with securing an acceptable balance between the demands arising from the rubber industries according to three considerations namely final rubber compound properties particularly curing characteristics and physico-mechanical properties, price and processability. Natural rubber (NR) is known to possess lower curing characteristics such as TC90, TS5, TS2, Cure rate index (CRI), maximum torque (MH) due to the nervy nature and reversion behavior and also moderate mechanical properties such as tensile and tear strength, low abrasion resistance, high wear and tear due to the poor reinforcement of certain carbon blacks in two roll mill mixing. Due to these drawbacks, its applications are restricted to a greater extend. Therefore recently NR compounds are replaced by introducing the synthetic rubber compounds like SBR vulcanizate for certain specialty applications in automotive industries especially in tyre manufacturing industries. In order to solve these existence of poor curing characteristics and low physico-mechanical properties of NR compounds, the present research work is proposed.