Enhancing the reinforcing efficiency of silica on styrenebutadiene rubber through the use of palmitamide

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, enhancing the reinforcing efficiency of silica on styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds through the use of palmitamide was carried-out. The palmitamide was laboratory prepared from palmitic acid and urea and loaded into the silica-filled SBR compounds at 1, 3, 5 and 7 phr. It was found that palmitamide exhibited modulus and tensile strength enhancements; the tensile modulus at 100% and tensile strength were enhanced, especially up to a three phr of palmitamide concentration. It was revealed that the modulus and tensile enhancements were attributed to the enhancing of reinforcing efficiency of silica on the SBR through the use of palmitamide as a curative and plasticizing rubber chemical which increased the degree of silica dispersion, interactions SBR to silica as well as cure state. From scanning electron microscopy (SEM) or morphology test, it was proved that the SEM image of silica-filled vulcanizates with 3 phr of palmitamide exhibited the greatest matrix tearing lines that indicated the greatest degree of filler dispersion and interactions between SBR to silica.