Ketjenblack-Reinforced Chloroprene Rubber / Brominated Butyl Rubber Blends: Enhanced Ozone and UV Stability, Air Permeability, and Tribological Performance
Elastomers are widely used in engineering but suffer degradation when exposed to heat, ozone, UV radiation, and chemicals. To enhance performance for specific industrial applications, blending with other materials is common. In this study, chloroprene rubber (CR) was blended with brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) and reinforced with Ketjenblack (KB) at concentrations up to 20%. KB exhibits a porous, fluffy morphology with a high specific surface area of 1347 m²/g. Tensile tests were conducted before and after exposure to UV, ozone, saline, petrol, and diesel environments, and retention capacity was evaluated per ASTM standards. Transmission electron microscopy confirmed uniform dispersion of KB filler. Tribological and barrier property studies identified 10% KB as optimal due to uniform dispersion. Thermal degradation kinetics were analyzed using Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose modeling to determine activation energy. Dynamic mechanical analysis indicated a 5 °C reduction in glass transition temperature for the 20% composite. These elastomeric blends demonstrate potential as advanced materials for harsh industrial applications.