Optimization of physico‐mechanical properties of silica‐filled NR/SBR compounds

Abstract

Abstract In this extended study, the effect of silica reinforcement on natural rubber (NR) and NR/styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds was studied. The silica surfaces were treated with bis(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl)‐tetrasulfide, which is a silane‐coupling agent, to chemically bond the silica to the rubber. Optimum levels of silane were determined according to the silica loading in NR compounds. Results in NR/SBR compounded with optimum levels of silane show that the cure time decreases with increasing NR content. Also, the tensile properties of the NR/SBR blends decrease with increasing SBR content. This study further confirmed that filler materials affect the physical and mechanical properties of these blends. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 28:224–232, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/adv.20169