Abstract
The main advantages of the use of silica instead of carbon black in rubber compounds are based on the use of a silane coupling agent. The use of a coupling agent to modify the silica surface improves the compatibility between the silica and the rubber. There are two different possibilities of modifying the silica surface by silane: ex-situ and in-situ. The present work studies the differences between these processes and how they affect the in-rubber properties of silica filled SBR compounds.
Highlights
The quantity of the modifying agent bonded to the silica was determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)
The success of the functionalization process was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) (Perkin Elmer, Waltham, MA, USA) using the DRIFTS cell
Tests to TESPD, results in better hydrophobation of the silica. This leads to lower filler-filler interactions which results in a lower viscosity of the rubber compounds
Summary
One of the possible solutions could be the presilanization of the silica This process consists of the surface modification of the silica with the coupling agent in a chemical reactor which takes place before the mixing. It might lead to higher yields of silanization than the ones of the in-situ process due to the missing complex rubber matrix during the chemical reaction, by avoiding side reactions If this conclusion is valid the final properties of the rubber compounds could be improved in terms of lower viscosity, higher reinforcement or a decrease in the Payne effect. A pre-modified silica might have the disadvantage that unmodified silica surface will be exposed during the mixing process due to the break of the silica clusters into smaller units To evaluate this possible effect, additional TESPD was added during the mixing process to the compound filled with pre-modified silica.
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