Improved dispersion and physico-mechanical properties of rubber/silica composites through new silane grafting |
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Authors: | Saikat Das Santanu Chattopadhyay Sawar Dhanania Anil K. Bhowmick |
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Affiliation: | 1. Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India;2. Mutual Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Kolkata, West Bengal, India |
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Abstract: | 3-Octanoylthio-1-propyltriethoxysilane (a new silane) grafted styrene butadiene rubber/ silica composites were prepared in the present work, where grafting weight percentage of the base rubber (0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%) and filler content of the composites (0, 5, 15, 35, and 50 phr) were varied to investigate dispersion of the filler in the rubber. A detailed quantitative study of morphology-physical property relationship of the composites using dispersion degree parameter was carried out. Pronounced improvement of dispersion was observed with increasing grafting weight percentage of the base rubber. A mechanism of polymer to filler interaction was shown by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The dispersion rate constant from the torque-time curve increased with the grafting percentage. Bound rubber content and Payne effect measurement indicated improved rubber-filler interaction for the grafted rubber compound. A relation between low strain modulus of the composites and grafting percentage was proposed. The nanoindentation studies gave further insight into the results. Other physico-mechanical properties at different grafting weight percentages at particular filler loading (50 phr) and at different filler loadings at a particular grafting weight percentage (4%) were evaluated. The improved mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties with increasing grafting weight percentage are an indication that this methodology could be used in green tire application. |
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Keywords: | composites dispersion morphology rubber silica |
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