Screening of mixing parameters based on their significance on the extent of silanization and energy consumption of silica‐filled S‐SBR elastomer compounds for fuel‐saving tyre application

Abstract

AbstractIncreasingly stringent in demand for a fuel‐saving tyre with low rolling resistance, the application of silica filler is governing the tyre industry day by day. Unlike carbon black filled rubber compound, silica compound is rather complicated as it demands, a reactive mixing where, mixing parameters of internal mixer play a vital role in the degree of silanization reaction. In this paper, a design of experiments (DOE) is carried out to screen the factors that significantly affect the silanization reaction during mixing. Taguchi method with L18 orthogonal array is employed to determine the significance of mixing parameters on the degree of silanization reaction. To quantify the significance of each mixing parameter on silanization, such as mixing temperature, mixing time, fill factor, feed door condition, ram pressure, and temperature control unit of Banbury mixer are explored. Key properties like Tan δ at 60°C, reinforcement index, and Payne effect (∆G') are considered responses for the DOE. It was observed that the silanization temperature and time were the most influencing factor in silanization using the contribution plot. In contrast, ram pressure and feed door condition have the least significance on the degree of silanization.