The Open Macromolecules Journal

2010, 4 : 32-36
Published online 2010 December 21. DOI: 10.2174/1874343901004010032
Publisher ID: TOMACROJ-4-32

Changes in Electrical Conductivity During Mechanical Deformation of Carbon Black Filled Elastomeric Matrix

Ivan Chodák , Silvia Podhradská , Jana Jarčušková Podhradská and Janka Jurčiová
Polymer Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, 842 36 Bratislava, Slovakia.

ABSTRACT

Relation between electrical conductivity and mechanical behaviour was investigated during mechanical deformation followed by stress relaxation at constant deformation and by recovery after stress release. Although generally simple mechanism was expected consisting in conductivity decrease during strain followed by certain recovery during stress relaxation, rather complex behaviour was observed, depending on deformation values and type of filler used. It is believed that conductivity changes may contribute to understanding of changes in the reinforcing filler structure during mechanical deformation. The results are discussed in terms of formation, decomposition and further reforming of conductive continuous filler structures during various stages of mechanical deformation.

Keywords:

Electrical properties, mechanical properties, correlation, relaxation, network structure.