Effect of carbon black properties on cut and chip wear of natural rubber

The effect of carbon black colloidal properties on cut and chip wear of natural rubber compounds is investigated across a wide range of applied impact normal forces using an Instrumented Cut and Chip Analyzer (ICCA). The objective of the study is to determine the basic fatigue and fracture mechanisms that drive cut and chip wear. Natural rubber compounds reinforced with eight different carbon blacks varying in structure and surface area are studied. The loading of the carbon blacks in the rubber compounds is fixed at 50 parts per hundred rubber (phr). The cut and chip performance strongly correlates to both the carbon black morphological properties and the resulting compound mechanical and fracture properties. The cut and chip performance also depends on the applied impact normal force level. At low forces, high structure carbon blacks result in compounds which are stiffer and deflect less under the applied impact normal forces and minimize cut and chip wear. At high forces, low structure carbon black compounds, which are softer and more readily able to crystallize under force-controlled deflection, minimize cut and chip wear. It is argued that at low applied impact normal forces, the cut and chip behavior is dominated by a force-controlled fatigue crack growth mechanism which transitions to a critical tearing energy dominated mechanism at high applied impact normal forces. It is therefore important to understand the severity of application to select optimum compound properties such as the carbon black type to minimize cut and chip wear in application. • Cut and chip wear of eight carbon black reinforced natural rubber compounds are tested. • The carbon black's structure and surface area varied; but volume fraction was equivalent. • Cut and chip wear depends on the applied normal force and carbon black properties. • At low and high force, high and low carbon black structure are respectively ideal. • Cut and chip wear transitions from fatigue crack growth to tearing at high forces.