Studies on physicomechanical and electrical properties of SBR - Carbon black composites

Abstract

A series of styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR) composites have been vulcanized with different weight ratios of general purpose furnace carbon black, viz., 10, 30, 50, 70, and 90%. The compounded SBR composites have been characterized for physicomechanical properties, such as surface hardness, tensile strength, percentage elongation at break, and tensile modulus. The dimensional stability of SBR composites has been enhanced by an increase in carbon black loading because of the polymer-filler interaction or reinforcing effect of filler. The electrical properties such as dielectric constant () and dissipation factor (tan ) of the composites have been measured using a HP LCR meter. These properties have been measured at different frequencies and with a different amount of carbon black loading. A drastic improvement in the dielectric constant of the composites has been noticed because of an increase in carbon black loading in the SBR phase. © 2006 SAGE Publications.