Compounds of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) filled with bamboo charcoal powders (BCPs) were prepared with a laboratory-sized two-roll mill. The effects of the BCP loading on the curing characteristics and mechanical and thermal properties were investigated. The results indicate that the addition of BCP resulted in a longer curing time and a higher Mooney viscosity in the SBR materials. The incorporation of BCP into SBR improved the mechanical properties and dynamic properties. Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the vulcanizates after thermal aging were also studied, and the experimental results indicate that most of the mechanical properties improved after thermal aging. The overall results indicate that BCP could be used as a cheaper filler for SBR materials. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 4534-4541, 2013