Chemical Interaction between Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene and Silica—Effect of Surface Modifications of Silica

Abstract

Abstract The surface of precipitated silica was modified by heat treatment (800°C, 4 h) and hexadecanol treatment. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopic (DRIFTS) measurements reveal that the modification of the silica surface reduces the silanol content. Heat treatment causes condensation of the silanol groups forming siloxane linkages, while hexadecanol treatment causes esterification, thereby, shielding the free silanol groups. As a result, the modified silicas exhibit much less interaction with polar molecules (e.g. water, chloroform), compared to the unreacted silica. Bound rubber formation in the chlorosulfonated polyethylene (CSM)/silica system is also adversely affected by the modification of the filler surface. CSM upon heat treatment (180°C, 1 h) loses -SO2Cl groups and the modified polymer lacks in its ability to form bound rubber. Accordingly, it is believed that the rubber-filler interaction occurs between the silanol groups of the silica and sulfonyl chloride groups of CSM.