The role of fullerene-like structures in carbon black and their interaction with dienic rubber

The identification of fullerene-like sites on carbon black surface and in particular the pentagonal or corannulene-type sites, has permitted us to explain the chemical interaction between filler and polymer (diene rubber) occurring during mixing in terms of free radical and Diels-Alder addition of polymer chains on the fullerene-like sites of carbon black. The free radicals and diene sites are formed on rubber chains during mixing by the mechanochemical degradation, which is caused by shear stresses. We have also noticed the curious analogy between the turbostratic morphology of carbon black particles and the onion-like graphitic particles.