Effect of Elongation on the Electrical Anisotropy of Natural Rubber and SBR Vulcanizates Containing ISAF Carbon Black

Abstract The electrical resistivity of testpieces under different elongations, both parallel and at right-angles to the axis of elongation, was measured for two vulcanizates, i.e. one of natural rubber and the other of SBR, compounded with 20 volume per cent of ISAF black (Vulcan 6). Within the range of validity of Ohm's law, the main results of this study are as follows: a) the resistivities of both vulcanizates increase considerably with elongation, in both directions. b) on the whole, both vulcanizates are electrically anisotropic, since current flows more easily longitudinally than it does transversely. The anisotropy increases at the start with elongation, then becomes practically constant. However, the latter level is much higher with natural rubber, for which it corresponds to an anisotropy of about 1,000 and an elongation of around 150%. For SBR this level is only 20 to 30 and is reached at only 50% elongation. Owing to the complexity of the problem, no interpretation can yet be given for these differences. It will first be necessary to examine other elastomers and carbon blacks. For the time being, it may merely be stated that the electrical anisotropy of natural rubber and SBR reinforced vulcanizates differs as much as their mechanical properties, especially their tearing behavior.