Influence of process parameters of a continuous final mixer on the properties of carbon black/rubber composites

Abstract As the final stage of the mixing process, the final mixing has a profound impact on the properties of rubber compounds. The influence of the process parameters of a continuous final mixer on the properties of carbon black/rubber composites is studied. It is found that there are two factors affecting the performance of the composite: the rotating speed of the dual rotors and the temperature of the continuous final mixer. When the temperature is unchanged, the extruding temperature of the final-mixing rubber compound increases with increasing rotating speed, and the Mooney viscosity, T10, T90 and rolling resistance gradually decrease. The Payne effect decreases first and then increases, and the overall trend gradually decreases. When the rotating speed is constant, as the temperature of the continuous final mixer rises, the extruding temperature also rises, and the temperature difference between feeding and extruding increases. Mooney viscosity and tensile strength increase. The Payne effect is more significant. T10, T90 and rolling resistance gradually decrease. The M300 of a vulcanized sample shows the following laws: When the control temperature is low, the influence of rotational speed is small, the fluctuation range is small, and has a steady rising trend; however, when the temperature is higher, M300 fluctuates greatly under the influence of rotational speed. The optimal process parameters of the rubber continuous final mixer are determined: the double rotor speed is 30RPM, and the temperature control temperature is 60–70 °C.