Characterization of Fillers in Vulcanizates According to the Einstein-Guth-Gold Equation

Abstract

Abstract 1. Up to now, the application of the Einstein-Guth-Gold equation seemed to be limited to inactive fillers. 2. However, in the form of Equation (6), it describes with high accuracy the moduli of vulcanizates containing active fillers as a function of the filler volume fraction at least up to ϕ=0.22 at uniaxial elongations and for any given value of λ. 3. The effectiveness factor ƒ is independent of crosslinking density, but is dependent on deformation, temperature, and the surface activity of the filler. 4. If ƒ as a function of elongation is known, the respective stress-strain curves of filled networks can be calculated in advance for any given crosslinking density. 5. The interpretation of the effectiveness factor will require further investigations, especially with regard to the influence of the structure and surface activity of the filler.