The filler–elastomer chemical link and the reinforcement of rubber

摘要

AbstractReinforcement, the improvement of the service life of rubber goods, is dependent on the behavior of the carbon black–elastomer interface. It is generally believed that the interaction between the filler and the matrix involves physical and chemical forces. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the significance of the chemical interaction. In order to demonstrate the influence of the chemical bond without interference of physical forces, the problem is approached in a different way. The chemical bond is first realized by grafting the polymer onto the carbon surface. Then, two mixes are prepared by avoiding milling: one with the grafted black and the other with regular black. The comparison of the static and dynamic mechanical properties highlights the influence of the chemical bonding of the elastomer onto the black: the grafted black bestows much higher performance to the corresponding vulcanizate than does the regular black. However, the degree of reinforcement observed is somewhat lower than the one obtained by dry millin