Abstract
Bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)tetrasulfide (TESPT) was found to affect the curing characteristics and the physical properties of styrene-butadiene (SBR) gum rubber and xin situ silica-filled SBR vulcanizates. Silica incorporated by the in situ sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane with TESPT showed a much higher reinforcing efficiency than did conventional mechanical mixing and the in situ method without TESPT. The higher reinforcing efficiency is attributed to the formation of a silica-rubber network, which also changed the dynamic mechanical behavior of the SBR vulcanizates. Transmission electron microscopy observations showed in situ silica incorporation of very fine particles in comparison to the sol-gel process without TESPT.
Studies on in situ silica reinforcement of rubber by sol-gel method(part 2), in situ silica reinforcement of styrene-butadiene rubber by sol-gel method.