Effects of a silane coupling agent on viscoelastic properties of bentonite-filled rubber blends.

Elastomer materials have gained considerable attention because they possess the potential to accomplish improved properties by the addition of even small quantities of nanofillers into elastomer matrix. Nanofillers play two important roles in rubber blends. The first is to improve the mechanical properties and the second one is to adjust the compatibility and morphology of the rubber blends. Filler-to-rubber interaction is important parameter in the reinforcement of rubber. In the presented study, (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and 3-(Trimethoxysilyl)propyl methacrylate (TMSPMA) were used as a silane coupling agents in order to modify the bentonite filler. Two different silane treatment methods were used to improve the reinforcing effect of bentonite in rubber blends. The first method was chemical silanization with silane coupling agents in ethanol solution. The second method was also chemical silanization with silane coupling agents in ethanol solution but the pH was modified to make the silane coupling agent easier hydrolyze. The silanized bentonites were mixed into rubber blends as a partial replacement for carbon black. This work is focused on the study of the silane coupling agent effects on viscoelastic properties of bentonite-filled rubber blends. The quality of the filler-to-polymer as well as filler-to-filer interactions was evaluated owing to determining the viscoelastic properties of the filled blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]