Mechanical, Electrical, Morphological, and Solvent Transport Properties of Silicone Rubber–Conductive Carbon Black Composites for Antistatic Applications

Abstract

This study investigates silicone rubber−conductive carbon black (CCB) composites for antistatic applications aimed at protecting electronic devices from electrostatic discharge (ESD). The effects of the CCB concentration on the electrical and mechanical properties of the composites were analyzed. As the CCB concentration increased, the mechanical properties gradually decreased, while direct current (DC) conductivity increased. Composites containing 15 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of CCB exhibited effective antistatic properties with a resistivity of 9.37 × 10 4 Ω cm. Morphological analysis revealed that CCB was uniformly dispersed at lower concentrations but agglomerated at higher loadings. Power law fitting indicated a percolation threshold around 10 phr of CCB, suggesting the formation of a conductive network. Solvent transport and dissolution studies showed that the CCB network hindered diffusion, with diffusion behavior transitioning from Fickian to non-Fickian behavior, best described by the Peppas−Sahlin model. Additionally, molecular mass and crosslink density measurements confirmed the development of a network structure, which is critical for enhancing antistatic performance. These findings highlight the potential of CCB-based silicone rubber composites for effective ESD protection in electronic applications.