Modification of Epoxy/Recovered Carbon Black (rcB): The Effect of Defoamer and Dispersing Agent

This study focused on recovered carbon black (rCB), obtained from the pyrolysis of end-of-life (EOL) rubber tyres. The rCB was mixed with epoxy resin and diethyl toluene diamine (DETDA) as a hardener to produce epoxy/rCB composites intended for electrostatic discharge (ESD) applications. A defoamer was added to the pre-mixed solution to restrict air bubble formation produced from mixing, while a dispersing agent was used to ensure more uniform dispersion of rCB in the epoxy matrix. This work studied the mechanical, morphological, and electrical properties of untreated epoxy/rCB systems and treated systems with defoamer and dispersing agent. Outcomes showed that the addition of defoamer reduced bubble formation and improved the composite properties. However, adding a dispersing agent led to the formation of more bubbles, which deteriorated the properties of the composite system.