The influence of
carbon black on physical mechanical properties, compressive
fatigue life, and the temperature changes during compression
fatigue process of
styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates were explored. A series of unfilled and filled SBR compounds were prepared, and the compressive
fatigue behaviors of the vulcanizates were performed on a mechanical testing and simulation (MTS) machine. The top surfaces of the filled SBR were imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) after 105 cycles of compressive
fatigue. The filled SBR shows greater compressive
fatigue resistance than the unfilled SBR. The incorporation of
carbon black into SBR improves the creep resistance. The best compressive
fatigue resistance for the filled SBR was achieved by the addition of 30 phr
carbon black. With the increase of
carbon black content, the energy dissipation and the heat build-up increase simultaneously. Furthermore, SEM images of the vulcanizates suggest that the crack propagation mechanism of the unfilled and the filled SBR was different. For the unfilled SBR, due to periodical compressive stress, the
polymer chains can be destroyed, and the cracks can be easily initiated and propagated, showing serious damage on the top surfaces of the specimen. However, for the filled SBR, the
carbon black agglomeration around the cracks can greatly delay the generation of the cracks, decrease the
fatigue damage, and ultimately improve the
fatigue resistance.