| Abstract: | We developed surface‐modified silica fillers by coating these with an acrylate monomer, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, or a silane coupling agent, triethoxyvinyl silane, followed by electron‐beam irradiation at room temperature. These were incorporated in an ethylene–octene copolymer rubber. Thermorheological studies of the unvulcanized ethylene–octene copolymer and its untreated and modified silica‐filled composites were done with a shear dynamic oscillating rheometer. Modification of the silica filler, especially via the silanization process followed by electron beam treatment, significantly reduced filler–filler networking as revealed from the log–log plots of storage modulus and complex shear viscosity, and its real component. The rheological complexity of the compositions was analyzed from a double logarithmic plot of the storage modulus and loss modulus. The results obtained from the master curves constructed on the basis of the time–temperature superposition principle and the activation energy calculated from the Arrhenius equation for the flow of above these compounds further supported these findings. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 2453–2459, 2003 |
