Effect of Pressure and Shear on Compaction of Powdered Rubber with Carbon Black
Abstract During the incorporation stage of mixing carbon black with elastomer, the mixture becomes one solid mass, i.e., compacted. In this process, the elastomer must be deformed to conform with the topology of carbon black. This work attempts to elucidate the mechanism of compaction. In particular, the effects of static pressure and shear on compaction have been examined. A Sieglaff-McKelvey capillary rheometer was used for the higher pressure range and a Rheometrics mechanical spectrometer for the lower pressure range. A mixture of powdered rubber and carbon black was used. With static pressure alone, the compaction was slow and ineffective because the mixture forms a bridge structure. The compacted material was friable. With the application of shear, the bridge structure was easily broken, the compaction was attained immediately, and the compacted material was “fused” together. However, the application of shear was effective only when there was no slip between the rotor surface and the elastomer compound.