Effect of carbon black content on microcellular structure and physical properties of chlorinated polyethylene rubber foams

Chlorinated polyethylene rubber (CPE) foams filled with various content of carbon black were prepared by compression molding. The effect of carbon black content on the cure characteristics, foam characteristics and physical properties of the CPE compounds were investigated. The results showed that adding ZnSt as activator could lower the decomposition temperature of azodicarbonamide. The results of a moving die Rheometer suggested that the cure characteristics were influenced by the content of carbon black, and the cure rate index increased with carbon black content. The morphology and physical properties results indicated that the content of carbon black played important roles in the cell morphology and physical properties of CPE rubber foams. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.