Polysulfide treatment of carbon black filler and elastomeric compositions with polysulfide treated carbon black

Abstract

A chemically treated carbon black product is provided, which includes a pellet having an agglomerated mass of carbon black aggregates densified in a generally spheroidal form. The carbon black aggregates have polysulfide adsorbed on surfaces thereof. The polysulfide is thereby distributed throughout the pellet. Elastomeric compositions containing the chemically treated carbon black are also provided, and exhibit a reduction in hysteresis and equivalent or better abrasion resistance. A method for manufacturing the treated carbon black product is also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for manufacturing a treated carbon black product, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a quantity of carbon black aggregates prior to pelletization; and   treating the carbon black aggregates with a polysulfide, wherein the polysulfide is adsorbed onto surfaces of the carbon black aggregates.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 pelletizing the quantity of treated carbon black aggregates to form a pellet including an agglomerated mass of carbon black aggregates, the carbon black aggregates having polysulfide adsorbed on surfaces thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of treating the carbon black aggregates with the polysulfide includes an exposure of the carbon black aggregates to an aqueous solution of the polysulfide. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the polysulfide in the aqueous solution is ionic with counterions that are at least one of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, ammonium and any other metal or non-metal cation. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the aqueous solution further includes a binding agent for densification of the treated carbon black aggregates into the pellet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide is an organic polysulfide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polysulfide is a non-organic salt. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of treating the carbon black aggregates with the polysulfide is performed in one of a batch process and a continuous process. 
     
     
         9 . A treated carbon black product, comprising:
 carbon black aggregates having non-organic polysulfide salt adsorbed on surfaces thereof.   
     
     
         10 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon black aggregates are in the form of a pellet including an agglomerated mass of the carbon black aggregates. 
     
     
         11 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 10 , wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt is evenly distributed throughout the pellet. 
     
     
         12 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 9 , wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt includes S x , with x being from 2 to 100. 
     
     
         13 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 9 , wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt includes one of sodium polysulfide and calcium polysulfide. 
     
     
         14 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 9 , wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt is present in an amount from about 0.1 percent to about 10 percent by weight of the carbon black aggregates. 
     
     
         15 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 14 , wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt is present in an amount from about 0.5 percent to about 5 percent by weight of the carbon black aggregates. 
     
     
         16 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 15 , wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt is present in an amount of about 2 percent by weight of the carbon black aggregates. 
     
     
         17 . The treated carbon black product of  claim 9 , wherein adsorption of the non-organic polysulfide salt on the surfaces of the carbon black aggregates results in a depression in ASTM D6556 nitrogen adsorption of between about 0.1 percent and about 10 percent. 
     
     
         18 . A method for manufacturing a treated carbon black product having carbon black aggregates with non-organic polysulfide salt adsorbed on surfaces thereof, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a quantity of the carbon black aggregates prior to pelletization; and   treating the carbon black aggregates with the non-organic polysulfide salt, wherein the non-organic polysulfide salt is adsorbed on the surfaces of the carbon black aggregates.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the step of:
 pelletizing the quantity of treated carbon black aggregates to form a pellet including an agglomerated mass of carbon black aggregates.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of treating the carbon black aggregates with the non-organic polysulfide salt includes an exposure of the carbon black aggregates to an aqueous solution of the non-organic polysulfide salt.