ABSTRACT
Powders are commonly used as fillers for rubber mixes. The most popular are carbon black, silica, kaolin, or more modern like graphene, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. The nature of their surface is the main attribute of fillers, as surface energy and specific area determine the compatibility of filler with rubber matrix and the affinity to other c ingredients. One of the major problems is the tendency of fillers to agglomeration-formation of bigger secondary structures, associated with lower level of filler dispersion, what is reflected by the decrease of mechanical properties of rubber vulcanizates [1]. Surface modification of powder can improve interaction between rubber matrix and filler. Application of low-temperature plasma treatment for this purpose has been drawing increasing attention recently [2, 3].
