Effect of strain on the properties of an ethylene–octene elastomer with conductive carbon fillers

Composites that incorporate a conductive filler into an ethylene- octene (EO) elastomer matrix were evaluated for DC electrical and mechanical properties. Comparing three types of fillers (carbon fiber, low structure carbon black, and high structure carbon black), it was found that the composite with high structure carbon black exhibited a combination of properties not generally achievable with this type of filler in an elastomeric matrix. A decrease in resistivity at low strains is unusual and has only been reported previously in a few instances. Reversibility in the resistivity upon cyclic deformation is a particularly unusual feature of EO with high structure carbon black. The mechanical and electrical performance of the high structure carbon black composites at high strains was also impressive. Mechanical reinforcement in accordance with the Guth model attested to good particle-matrix adhesion. The EO matrix also produced composites that retained the inherent high elongation of the unfilled elastomer even with the maximum amount of filler (30% by volume). The EO matrix with other conducting fillers did not exhibit the exceptional properties of EO with high structure carbon black. Composites with carbon fiber and low structure carbon black did not maintain good mechanical properties, generally exhibited an increase in resistivity with strain, and exhibited irreversible changes in both mechan- ical and electrical properties after extension to even low strains. An explanation of the unusual properties of EO with high structure carbon black required unique features of both filler and the matrix. The proposed model incorporates the multifunctional phys- ical crosslinks of the EO matrix and dynamic filler-matrix bonds. © 2000 John Wiley &