Abstract
Silica-reinforced natural rubber (NR) tire tread compounds with epoxidized natural rubber
(ENR) as a compatibilizer are investigated. ENR contents of 2.5-15.0 phr, with epoxide levels
of 10, 38 and 51 mol%, are used. The addition of ENRs, especially ENR-38 and ENR-51, as
compatibilizers decreases the Mooney viscosity and Payne effect (i.e. filler-filler interaction),
which implies an improvement of silica dispersion in the compounds. Chemically bound
rubber contents of the compounds, indicative for interaction/reaction between the epoxidegroups
of the ENR and silanol-groups on the silica surfaces, also increase with higher
epoxide-contents of the ENR. Raising the ENR contents and mole% of epoxide prolongs
cure and scorch times of the silica-filled compounds, when compared with a silica-filled NRcompound
without ENR. Tensile strength of vulcanizates is improved with increasing mole%
of epoxide, and an optimum value is observed when 7.5 phr of ENR-51 was used. The
results show overall, that the properties of silica-reinforced NR can be substantially improved
by adding ENR as a compatibilizer, when compared with a compound without.
Original language | English |
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Pages | 1-7 |
Publication status | Published - 2012 |
Event | Deutsche Kautschuk-Tagung, DKT 2012 - Nürnberg, Germany Duration: 2 Jul 2012 → 5 Jul 2012 |
Conference
Conference | Deutsche Kautschuk-Tagung, DKT 2012 |
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Abbreviated title | DKT |
Country/Territory | Germany |
City | Nürnberg |
Period | 2/07/12 → 5/07/12 |
Keywords
- Silica
- Epoxidized natural rubber
- Natural rubber
- Compatibilizer