The role of carbon black surface activity and specific surface area in the vulcanization reaction

This paper reviews the work developed in studying how Carbon Black presence may affect the vulcanization process and the mechanisms by which CB and polymer interact, which has not been completely described in the studies performed to date. The approach of considering polymer composites as two interpenetrated networks is reviewed. From this point of view, some techniques for studying the CB network formation and the variables that may influence this process are described, and the need to develop new ones is emphasized. Concerning the vulcanization reaction some contradictory results have been reported but the influence of the CB presence seems to be clear. The role of CB specific surface area and surface activity are discussed in this paper. The possibility of tailoring these properties in order to obtain better cohesion between the two interpenetrated networks and, as a result, higher quality articles is outlined.