Abstract:
Carbon black (CB) and silica have been used as the main reinforcing fillers that
increase the usefulness of rubbers. Since each filler possesses its own advantages, the use of
silica/CB blends might enhance the mechanical and dynamic properties of natural rubber (NR)
vulcanizates. However, the optimum of silica/CB ratio giving rise to the optimum properties is
needed to be clarified. It is known that silica is more difficult to disperse in NR compounds
than CB. In order to enhance the dispersability, the chemical treatments of silica surfaces by
using a silane coupling agent such as bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide or Si-69 have
become a useful method. In addition, polar rubbers such as polychloroprene (CR) and
epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) have been recently shown to improve silica dispersion and
hence the properties of silica-filled NR vulcanizates.
In this research, reinforcement of NR with silica/CB hybrid filler at various ratios was
studied in order to determine the optimum silica/CB ratio. The total hybrid filler content was
50 phr. The mechanical and dynamic properties, indicated reinforcement of NR vulcanizates,
such as hardness, tensile strength, tear strength, abrasion resistance, flex-cracking resistance,
heat buildup resistance and rolling resistance were determined. The appropriate filler ratio
yielding optimum properties was selected for a further study to investigate the effect of Si-69
and polar rubbers (CR and ENR) on the properties of the vulcanizate.
The results reveal that the vulcanizate (S20) containing 20 and 30 phr of silica and
CB, respectively, exhibits the optimum properties and it was chosen for the subsequent study.
The incorporation of CR or ENR into S20 clearly improves only tensile retention and abrasion
resistance while other properties are deteriorated or remain unchanged. Without Si-69, most
properties of the chosen NR vulcanizate are deteriorated owing to poor interaction between
filler and NR. Comparison between the effects of Si-69 and polar rubbers (CR and ENR)
reveals that the optimum properties are achieved by using Si-69 rather than the polar rubbers.
The results suggest that Si-69 is essential for improving the properties of vulcanizates filled
with hybrid filler. This is because Si-69 can improve the filler-rubber interaction leading to
enhanced silica dispersion. Moreover, it can also form crosslinks in the rubber. However, in
the absence of Si-69, ENR serves the function of a compatibilizer for NR vulcanizates filled
with hybrid filler better than CR.