Effects of Carbon Blacks on Mechanical Properties and Heat Build-up of Rubber Compounds

This research was studied the effect of carbon black on the properties of rubber composite in order to apply it for energy-saved tire. Carbon black as reinforcement agent with different grades N330 and N220 on the properties of natural rubber was studied. The comparison of different ratios of carbon black N330 at 40, 45, 50, 55 phr and N220 at 30, 35, 40, 50 phr was investigated. The rubber compound was mixed by semi-efficiently vulcanized system (semi-EV). The result of mechanical properties shown that rubber compound with N220 had greater rubber/carbon black interaction than that of N330. Mooney viscosity of rubber compound increased when carbon black ratio increased. After the vulcanization reaction of rubber compound at high temperature, the samples were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile strength and heat-build up. The results were shown that the strength of rubber compound increases with increasing of carbon black ratio. There were no significant differences of mechanical properties between rubber compound with N330 and that of N220, but rubber compound with N330 presented lower heat buildup than that of N220. This study indicated that rubber compound with semi-efficiently vulcanized system and reinforcement with carbon black N330 is appropriated for rubber compound formulation for the application of energy-saved tire.