Improvement of Silica Dispersion in Solution Polymerized Styrene–Butadiene Rubber via Introducing Amino Functional Groups

ABSTRACT To overcome the problem of fossil fuel depletion and associated environmental issues arising from the use of tire tread elastomers, a convenient, environmentally friendly, and highly efficient strategy was developed to prepare high-performance green solution polymerized styrene–butadiene rubber (SSBR)/silica nanocomposites by improving silica dispersion in the nonpolar polymer matrix via the introduction of a biobased nonpolar bottlebrush segment with two double bonds. Various elastomers containing biobased nonpolar bottlebrush β-myrcene segments were synthesized using an industrially robust anionic polymerization method. Results of robotic process automation, small-angle X-ray scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy revealed that rubber with myrcene could significantly improve silica dispersibility and inhibit the strong filler–filler interactions, which are due to the formation of hydrogen bonding between the double bonds in the myrcene block and silanol groups on the silica surface and possibly to the spreading or infiltrating of myrcene bottlebrush segments onto silica. Furthermore, for the modified rubber, rolling resistance decreased by 41.7%, tear strength increased by 20.78%, and tensile strength increased by 77.8% with the elongation at break remained practically unchanged as compared with the unmodified silica/SSBR composite. On the basis of aforementioned assessment, we believe that silica-reinforced β-myrcene–based styrene–butadiene integrated rubber is a versatile and promising candidate for future tire tread elastomers.

Download Full-text

Effect of Sulfur Variation on the Vulcanizate Structure of Silica-Filled Styrene-Butadiene Rubber Compounds with a Sulfide–Silane Coupling Agent

Polymers ◽

10.3390/polym12122815 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 2815

Author(s):

Sangwook Han ◽

Bonyoung Gu ◽

Sungwoo Kim ◽

Seongrae Kim ◽

Dalyong Mun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coupling Agent ◽

Silane Coupling Agent ◽

Influencing Factor ◽

Coupling Efficiency ◽

Styrene Butadiene Rubber ◽

Butadiene Rubber ◽

Rubber Compounds ◽

Silane Coupling ◽

Silica Dispersion ◽

Styrene Butadiene

The vulcanizate structure of filled compounds is affected by filler–rubber interactions (FRI) and the chemical crosslink density (CCD) of the matrix rubber. In particular, in filled compounds using a silica–silane system, FRIs due to silica–rubber coupling are a major influencing factor for the vulcanizate structure and physical properties. In this study, the effect of sulfur variation on the vulcanizate structure of silica-filled solution styrene–butadiene rubber compounds using a sulfide–silane coupling agent was studied. The vulcanizate structure according to sulfur variation was quantitatively analyzed using the swelling test and Flory–Rehner and Kraus equations. As the sulfur content increased, both FRI and the CCD increased, and it was confirmed that sulfur variation influenced the silica–rubber coupling efficiency through increased FRI. In addition, field emission scanning electron microscope images showed that increased FRI contributed to improvements in silica dispersion, abrasion resistance, and energy loss characteristics.

Download Full-text

Synthesis and characterization of end-functionalized solution polymerized styrene-butadiene rubber and study the impact of silica dispersion improvement on the wear behavior of the composite

Polymer Testing ◽

10.1016/j.polymertesting.2020.106431 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 85 ◽

pp. 106431 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Majid Hassanabadi ◽

Mohammad Najafi ◽

Ghodratollah Hashemi Motlagh ◽

Sadaf Saeedi Garakani

Keyword(s):

Wear Behavior ◽

Styrene Butadiene Rubber ◽

Synthesis And Characterization ◽

Butadiene Rubber ◽

Silica Dispersion ◽

Styrene Butadiene ◽

The Impact

Download Full-text

Silica dispersion in styrene butadiene rubber composites studied by synchrotron tomography

Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids ◽

10.1016/j.jnoncrysol.2011.10.009 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 358 (3) ◽

pp. 557-563 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

K. Nusser ◽

T. Mosbauer ◽

G.J. Schneider ◽

K. Brandt ◽

G. Weidemann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Styrene Butadiene Rubber ◽

Butadiene Rubber ◽

Rubber Composites ◽

Synchrotron Tomography ◽

Silica Dispersion ◽

Styrene Butadiene

Download Full-text

LIQUID POLYBUTADIENE EXTENDED ESBR/SILICA WET-MASTERBATCH COMPOSITES FOR IMPROVING ABRASION RESISTANCE AND DYNAMIC PROPERTIES OF TIRE TREAD COMPOUNDS

Rubber Chemistry and Technology ◽

10.5254/rct.21.79881 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Woong Kim ◽

Iz Muhammet ◽

Donghyuk Kim ◽

Il Jin Kim ◽

Jong-Yeop Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Abrasion Resistance ◽

Crosslink Density ◽

Dynamic Properties ◽

Silica Content ◽

Styrene Butadiene Rubber ◽

Butadiene Rubber ◽

Polybutadiene Rubber ◽

Silica Dispersion ◽

Styrene Butadiene

ABSTRACT Silica wet-masterbatch (WMB) is a well-known technique for manufacturing high-content, highly dispersed silica-filled compounds. Emulsion styrene–butadiene rubber (ESBR)/silica WMB offers several advantages, including excellent silica dispersion and reduced hysteresis, as compared with conventional dry masterbatch (DMB) compound. However, because of the residual emulsifiers in ESBR latex, it can exhibit a decrease in the crosslink density and reductions in its mechanical properties. Moreover, the abrasion resistance cannot be significantly enhanced because of the tradeoff between the improvement in silica dispersion and decrease in crosslink density. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to improve the silica dispersion and abrasion resistance of ESBR/silica WMB compounds by using liquid polybutadiene rubber (LqBR) extended WMB. In detail, three types of LqBR were emulsified to LqBR emulsions, and three types of LqBR extended WMBs were produced by co-coagulating ESBR latex, silane-modified silica, and the LqBR emulsion. A thorough characterization was conducted with emphasis on the silica content, cure characteristics, mechanical properties, abrasion resistance, and dynamic viscoelastic properties. Based on the results, silane-terminated LqBR extended WMB vulcanizate showed a 58% improvement in the 300% modulus, 48% reduced DIN abrasion loss, and a 23% improvement in dynamic properties.

Download Full-text