Abstract
The cure times ( t 90), tensile strengths and tear strengths of silica-filled epoxidised natural rubber (ENR), with or without the presence of γ-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (A-189) and bis(triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulphide (Si-69) and cure using a semi-efficient vulcanisation (semi-EV system) were studied. Three grades of ENR having 10, 25 and 50 mole % of epoxidation were used. Mixing was done using a Brabender Plasti-Corder attached with a mixing can. A semi-EV system was found to be better than either a conventional vulcanisation (CV) or an efficient vulcanisation (EV) systems when ENR is mixed with silica, with or without the addition of silane, 2% A-189 was found to be the optimum amount of coupling agent for wetting out the silica. The t 90 of all three ENR grades without the presence of A-189 show cure retardation. When 2% A-189 was added, cure enhancement occurs in all three ENR grades. All three grades of ENR show improvements in the tensile strengths and tear strengths.
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