The Effect of Carbon Black Morphology on the Improvement of the Electrical and Thermal Conductivity of a Hybrid Filler‐Based Tread Cap Compound

ABSTRACT

The tyre performance is ever‐increasing due to the critical requirements from automobile industry and to comply with the various legislations & regulations. Researchers are constantly innovating to meet these challenges by harnessing the potential of design, materials, construction, etc. Silica, being a very popular reinforcing material, improves tyre rolling resistance and wet grip simultaneously. However, silica, due to its insulating nature, shows a tendency of accumulating static electricity charges, which need to be grounded properly. In addition, heat generation due to the viscoelastic nature of rubber requires effective dissipation of same to improve structural durability. This study aimed to enhance the electrical and thermal conductivity of a silica‐rich tread compound by replacing 5–25 phr of carbon black (CB) with conductive CB such as porous‐structured black, Carbon Nanotube (CNT), and Graphene at a 1:1 ratio. Results indicate that upon replacement, a surge is observed for the electrical conductivity, along with ~10% rise in thermal conductivity and ~30% increment in low‐strain modulus with CNT, without having any adverse effects on processing behavior or key mechanical properties, including hardness, tensile strength, and abrasion resistance. Among the conductive fillers, CNT delivered the most pronounced benefits, but further optimization is needed to mitigate hysteresis‐related performance.