Influence of partial substitution of carbon black with silica on mechanical, thermal, and aging properties of super specialty elastomer based composites

Abstract

Abstract The reduction of the carbon black quantity in elastomeric composites is a massive requirement from environmental perspective and a huge challenge for industrial implementation. The present work consists of the replacement of half amount of carbon black with silica without compromising the basic properties along with ushering of superior characteristics of fluoroelastomer and silicone rubber blends. The comparative study of carbon black‐silica hybrid filler (1:1 ratio) with carbon black and silica at different loadings shows much superior aging behavior and thermal stability compared with the other composites with unforeseen increment of tensile strength (56%). The fundamentals of rubber‐filler interaction and reinforcement phenomenon of the hybrid filler composites have been determined by the correlation of the experimental findings with different models like Nicolais‐Narkis, Nielsen, Guth, and Kerner model. Furthermore, enhanced compatibility between the two rubber phases has been observed in terms of T g shifting (3.8°C) and reduced FKM domain size (from 450 to 300 nm) in the silicone rubber matrix for hybrid filler composites. Morphological studies reflect the selected homogeneous dispersion of the carbon black in fluoroelastomer domain and silica in silicone rubber phase. These super specialty elastomeric composites can be used as oil and fuel resistant gaskets and O‐rings for wide temperature range.