The effects of carbon black on the properties of rubber composites were studied in order to explore their value in producing low rolling resistance truck tires. Carbon black with different grades, N330 (coarser grade of 26–30 nm) and N220 (finer grade of 20–25 nm), was used as a reinforcing agent of natural rubber. The effects of different ratios of carbon black N330 at 40, 45, 50 and 55 parts per hundred rubber (phr) and N220 at 30, 35, 40 and 50 phr were investigated. Rubber composites with N220 had greater rubber/carbon black interaction than those with N330. The Mooney viscosity of rubber composite increased when the carbon black ratio increased. After vulcanisation of rubber, the samples were characterised by dynamic mechanical analysis, tensile strength and heat build-up. The results showed that the strength of rubber composites increased with increasing carbon black ratios. Interestingly, at the same bound rubber level, rubber composites with N220 presented lower dissipation energy, heat build-up and better mechanical properties than those with N330. This study indicated that reinforcement with an optimum amount of carbon black N220 would improve several desirable characteristics of rubber composites when used in low rolling resistance truck tires.

为了研究其在生产低滚动阻力卡车轮胎中的价值，研究了炭黑对橡胶复合材料性能的影响。N330（粗品级为26–30 nm）和N220（细品级为20–25 nm）不同等级的炭黑被用作天然橡胶的增强剂。研究了不同比例的炭黑N330在每百份橡胶中40、45、50和55份（phr）和N220在30、35、40和50 phr中的影响。N220的橡胶复合物比N330的橡胶/炭黑相互作用更大。当炭黑比增加时，橡胶复合材料的门尼粘度增加。橡胶硫化后，通过动态力学分析，拉伸强度和热量积累对样品进行表征。结果表明，橡胶复合材料的强度随着炭黑比的增加而增加。有趣的是，在相同的胶结水平下，与N330相比，N220的橡胶复合材料的耗散能量更低，热量积累更大，机械性能更好。这项研究表明，当在低滚动阻力的卡车轮胎中使用最佳量的碳黑N220进行增强时，橡胶复合材料会改善一些理想的特性。