Microdispersion of filler in rubber: Some quantitative aspects by AFM image analysis

The microdispersion of a series of carbon blacks in model rubber compounds has been studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The conditions of sample preparation and AFM observation were optimized on the well-dispersed samples. Qualitatively, the obtained AFM images show well the difference between the carbon blacks of different particle sizes or structures at the same loading and between different loading for the same carbon black. Quantitatively there is a good correlation between the filler loading and the surface fraction of filler in the AFM images. On the well-dispersed samples, the particle sizes observed are related to the carbon black grades.