Analysis of effect of modification of silica and carbon black co-filled rubber composite on mechanical properties

Abstract

Abstract Silica and carbon black (CB) co-filled rubber composite was widely used for tire tread and other rubber products because of combined advantages of binary fillers, such as low hysteresis, good abrasion resistance, and reinforcement. Numerous studies have been focused on the filler–rubber interaction with the aim of obtaining optimum performances. To investigate the effect of modification on properties of rubber composite, modified silica and CB co-filled rubber composite was prepared with a multi-functional silane coupling agent, 2-aminoethyl-2-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)aminoethyl disulfide (ATD). Such modification significantly enhanced the filler–rubber interaction and improved the filler dispersion. For the modified composites, the state of cure, hardness, tensile strength before and after aging, stress at 300% elongation, tear strength, abrasion resistance, rebound resilience, compression set, temperature rise, and the value of dynamic loss coefficient ranging from −20°C to 80°C were significantly improved, especially with low ATD dosage (3.0 phr). This modification provides an effective route to prepare silica and CB co-filled rubber composites with improved mechanical properties and dynamic mechanical properties.