Networked Silica with Exceptional Reinforcing Performance for SBR Compounds: Interconnected by Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate

Abstract

A networked silica (NS) prepared by interconnecting silica particles with polymeric methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) was developed for use as a highly effective reinforcing material for rubber compounds without the need to add silane coupling agents. MDI incorporated onto the silica surface formed networks among neighboring silica particles with urethane linkages and produced NS at low cost. The TEM photographs illustrated the improved dispersion and formation of openings among the silica particles, which could allow easy intrusion of rubber molecules. The NS showed a high reinforcing performance for styrene—butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds, suggesting the possibility of replacing the silica reinforcing systems with coupling agents. Due to the absence of any silane-containing coupling agents, the NS does not suffer the disadvantages associated with coupling agents. Since the NS reinforces rubber compounds by the physical entanglement between rubber molecules and the MDI chains, high loading of the NS is more effective in enhancing the mechanical properties of rubber compounds.

Keywords

networked silica SBR reinforcing MDI mechanical property.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Suzuki, N. , Ito, M. and Yatsuyanagi, F. (2005). Effects of Rubber/Filler Interactions on Deformation Behavior of Silica Filled SBR System, Polymer, 46: 193-201.

Ramier, J. , Chazeau, L. , Gauthier, C. , Guy, L. and Bouchereau, M.N. (2007). Influence of Silica and Its Different Surface Treatments on the Vulcanization Process of Silica Filled SBR, Rubber Chem. Technol., 80: 183-193.

Ansarifar, A. , Wang, L. , Ellis , R.J. and Kirtley, S.P. (2006). The Reinforcement and Crosslinking of Styrene Butadiene Rubber with Silanized Precipitated Silica Nanofiller, Rubber Chem. Technol., 79: 39-54.

Wagner, M.P. (1976). Reinforcing Silicas and Silicates, Rubber Chem. Technol., 49: 703-774.

Ten Brinke, J.W. , Debnath, S.C. , Reuvekamp , L.A.E. and Noordermeer , J.W.M. (2003 ). Mechanistic Aspects of the Role of Coupling Agents in Silica-Rubber Composites, Composites Sci. Technol., 63: 1165-1174.

Seo, G. , Kaang, S. , Ryu, C.S. and Lee, D.H. (2005). A New Concept of Silica, Named Networked Silica, Providing Exceptionally Powerful Reinforcement for Rubber Compounds, Pittsburgh, ACS Rubber Div.

Seo, G. , Kaang, S. , Hong, C.K. , Jeong, D. , Ryu, C.S. and Lee, D.H. (2008). Preparation of Novel Fillers, Named Networked Silicas, and their Effects of Reinforcement on Rubber Compounds, Polym. Int., 57: 1101-1109.

Seo, G. , (2004). Network Silica for Enhancing Tensile Strength of Rubber Compound, WO04/078835 A1.

Ardaud, P. , Charrierer-Perroud, E. and Varron, C. (1999). In: Thomas, P. (ed.), Polyurethanes, vol. III, London, Sita Technol. Ltd.

10.

http://www.kmci.co.kr (accessed 24 February 2009).

11.

Socrates, F. (1994). Infrared Characteristic Group Frequencies, 2nd edn, New York, John Wiley & Sons.

12.

Phewphong, P. , Saeoui, P. and Sirisinha, C. (2008). Mechanism of Silica Reinforcement in CPE/NR Blends by the Use of Rheological Approaches, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 107: 2638-2645.

13.

Ansarifar, A. , Wang, L. , Ellis , R.J. , Kirtley, S.P. and Riyazuddin , N. (2007). Enhancing the Mechanical Properties of Styrene-Butadiene Rubber by Optimizing the Chemical Bonding between Silanized Silica Nanofiller and the Rubber, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 105: 322-332.

14.

Wolff, S. (1996). Chemical Aspects of Rubber Reinforcement by Filler, Rubber Chem. Technol., 69: 325-346.

15.

Bandyopadhyay, A. , Sarkar, M.D. and Bhowmick, A.K. (2005). Effect of Reaction Parameters on the Structure and Properties of Acrylic Rubber/ Silica Hybrid Nanocomposites Prepared by Sol-Gel Technique, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 95: 1418-1429.