In-situ modification-dispersion technique for nano-fillers in rubber matrix

At the beginning of the nineties with the highly loaded silica passenger car trends, the modification of silica attracted great attention [1]. Silane coupling agent- bis-(3-triethoxisilylpropyl)-tetrasulfide (Si69) is the most widely used modifier. The reaction of Si69 with silica during the mixing (in-situ modification reaction) is always more economical than the use of modified fillers. By analyzing the strain dependence of the storage modulus and the loss factor tanδ, the RubberProcess-Analyzer (RPA, Alpha Technologies) allows a very reliable and detailed investigation of the dynamic behavior of green compounds and vulcanizates, which is closely related to the dispersion level of filler, the interfacial strength and etc. The aim of this report is to give a deeper insight into the in-situ modification dispersion technique (ISMD) for silica filled rubber system, and in the meantime, to extend the ISMD method for other nanofillers filled rubber composites, such as nano - Mg(OH) ₂, and attapulgite, which have hydroxyl groups on their surfaces.