Novel technique for crosslinking and reinforcing high-cis polybutadiene rubber using a silanized silica nanofiller

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2007-10, Vol.106 (2), p.1135-1145
• Main Authors: Ansarifar, A., Wang, L., Ellis, R. J., Haile-Meskel, Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; crosslinking; dispersions; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; mechanical properties; polybutadiene; Polymer industry, paints, wood; silicas; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.26578

A large amount of a precipitated amorphous white silica nanofiller was mixed with a high‐cis polybutadiene rubber. The silica surfaces were pretreated with bis(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide (TESPT). TESPT is a sulfur‐containing bifunctional organosilane that chemically adheres silica to rubber. The rubber was cured primarily with sulfur in TESPT, and the cure was optimized by the addition of a sulfenamide accelerator, which helped to form sulfur chemical bonds between the rubber and the filler. The hardness, tensile properties, tear strength, abrasion resistance, modulus, and cyclic fatigue life of the cured rubber improved substantially when the filler was added. Interestingly, this new technique produced a rubber with good mechanical properties, and only one accelerator was needed to optimize the chemical bonding between the rubber and the filler and fully cure the rubber. As a result, a substantial reduction in the use of the curing chemicals was achieved. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007