Abstract
Composites that incorporate precipitated silica into a vulcanized rubber were investigated for dynamic mechanical properties. Comparing different types of filler, it was found that the mean distance between particles did not alter Payne effect. On the contrary, the amount and morphology of the fillers played a major role on the macroscopic properties. The nature and amount of coupling or covering agents was also found to be an important parameter. A direct relationship between length and efficiency of interface agents was evidenced: longer silanes were more effective than shorter once independently from a covalent bounding to rubber. The set of studied parameters affecting Payne effect can be reduced to only two independents variables: the total amount of silica-rubber interface (a function of the amount of filler and its BET surface) and the quantity and nature of interface agent. From these data an attempt to relate the rubber to filler cohesion to Payne effect is proposed as well as a molecular mechanism derived from Maier and Göritz model. A mathematical treatment of the proposed mechanisms is currently being investigated that might help giving further insights on novel ways to further reduce Payne effect.
Effect of thermal aging on crystallization behaviors and dynamic mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS/GF) composites
