Rheology of polymers containing carbon black

Abstract

AbstractIn order to elucidate the flow behavior of electrophotographic toner systems, shear stress was measured as a function of shear rate in a cone and plate rheometer for polymer melts containing carbon blacks of surface area 24 and 625 m2/g at several concentrations and temperatures. Polymers included high and low molecular weight polystyrene and poly(butyl methacrylate). The addition of carbon black to the polymers caused a large increase in viscosity, especially at low shear rates and shear stresses. As the concentration of carbon black was increased, the viscosity at low shear rates became unbounded below a value of the shear stress designated the yield stress. The absolute magnitude of the yield stress depended primarily on the concentration and surface area of the carbon black and was independent of the polymer and temperature. Apparently, carbon black forms an independent network within the polymer at low shear rates which precludes flow. In some cases, the viscosity of polymers filled with carbon black was lower than that of the pure polymer. This effect was favored for polystyrene compared to poly(butyl methacrylate) and was facilitated by increasing the molecular weight of polystyrene, reducing the surface area and concentration of carbon black, and by increasing the temperature and shear rate.