Effects of different interphases on the mechanical properties of cured silanized silica‐filled styrene–butadiene/polybutadiene rubber blends for use in passenger car tire treads

Abstract

Polybutadiene (BR) and styrene-butadiene (SBR) rubbers containing the same loading of precipitated silica nanofiller were prepared. The silica surfaces were pretreated with bis(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide to chemically bond the silica to the rubber. The rubber compounds were mixed together for different times and at different temperatures to produce SBR/BR blends. The mass fraction and composition values of the interphases in the blends were subsequently determined with modulated-temperature differential scanning calorimetry. These properties changed substantially as a function of mixing temperature and mixing time. The hardness, tensile strength, elongation at break, stored energy density at break, tear strength, modulus, abrasion resistance, heat buildup, and loss tangent of the cured blends were measured over a wide range of test conditions. Elongation at break, stored energy density at break, tearing energy, and abrasion resistance benefited from increases in the mass fraction of the interphase. The remaining properties were influenced mainly by the filler loading and mixing time of the two rubber compounds.

Dynamic properties of star‐shaped, solution‐polymerized styrene–butadiene rubber and its cocoagulated rubber‐filled with silica/carbon black

“…C1 and N1 exhibited lower compression heat buildups (10–15°C) and compression permanent sets (2–3%) than those (18–48°C and 10–35%) reported by Peng et al A similar superiority was also reflected in a comparison with Kar's report . The compression permanent set of 5.8–6.2% and the compression heat buildups of 62.5–67°C and even 40.8–54.2°C and 85.7–92.3°C were higher than those in our study; this showed the advantage of cocoagulation technique.…”

Two advanced styrene‐butadiene/polybutadiene rubber blends filled with a silanized silica nanofiller for potential use in passenger car tire tread compound

“…In addition, when the SBR and BR rubbers were mixed together for 12 min to produce compounds 46 and 47 and then cured at 170 o C for up to 13 min, a strong interphase was formed between the two rubbers. 44,45 The development of a strong interphase between dissimilar rubbers is an important factor in the durability and performance of rubber blends in service.…”

Synthesis and utilization of epoxidized polybutadiene rubber as an alternate compatibilizer in green-tire composites

“…The silica and silane-based styrene-butadiene rubber/ polybutadiene rubber (SBR/BR) composites are currently being used in passenger car radial tire-tread [21]. In the present study, the commercial-grade high cis-polybutadiene rubber (BR) was epoxidized to synthesize epoxy-BR (EBR) at different epoxidation magnitude, and thus, prepared EBRs were used to replace and/or reduce the coupling agent from SBR/BR composites.…”