Fullerene-Like Structures as Interaction Sites between Carbon Black and Rubber

Ball-milling of N660 carbon black and graphite causes a deep activation of its surface activity which can be measured by a significant increase in the bound rubber level and in the amount of grafted rubber in comparison to the pristine untreated samples. The bound rubber measurement has been done also on a natural rubber masterbatch filled with extracted fullerene carbon black (EFCB). Also in this case extremely high levels of rubber grafting have been achieved in comparison to pure untreated graphite. It is discussed and demonstrated that the fullerene-like nanostructures in carbon blacks play a key role in the formation of bound rubber phenomenon and in grafting natural rubber on carbon black surface.