A study of carbon black distribution in polymers by the electron microscopy method

Abstract The distribution of furnace carbon black (of PM-100 type) in PE, PS, butyl, butadiene-nitrile, butadiene-styrene, ethylene-propylene and natural rubbers has been studied. It was established that the filler is concentrated preferentially between the ordered structural formations in the polymers, accompanying the formation of branched network structures. The dimensions of the polymer zones unoccupied by filler were determined for carbon black contents of 40 to 100% by weight. The electrical conductivity of vulcanizates of filled rubbers depends linearly on the dimensions of the polymer zones free from filler, expressed as a semi-logarithmic plot.