Effect of silane coupling agent on mica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber.pdfVIP

J O U R N A L O F M A T E R I A L S S C I E N C E 22 ( 1 9 8 7 ) 4 4 5 3 - 4 4 5 9 Effect of silane coupling agent on vulcanization, network structure, polymer-filler interaction, physical properties and failure mode of mica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber S. DEBNATH, S. K. DE, D. KHASTGIR Rubber Technology Centre, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 72 7 302, India Physical properties of composites from mica and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) have been studied with special reference to the effect of silane coupling agent (A-174) in the compound. Tensile and tear properties increase with the addition of mica. The increase of tensile proper- ties is more pronounced in the case of silane-treated mica. Silane treatment also raises the volume fraction of rubber in solvent-swollen rubber vutcanizate. Attempts have been made to correlate the changes in properties with the network structure of rubber. In order to under- stand the mechanism of failure, tensile fracture surfaces have been examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fractographs have been correlated with the strength and type of failure of these composites. The observed values of viscosity (rheometric) correspond to the calculated Values from existing theory based on the hydrodynamic model of dispersed particles in a fluid medium. 1. Introduct ion Mica has been used as a filler for thermoplastics due to its low cost, easy availability and outstanding electrical, heat and chemical resistance. The extent of reinforcement by mica depends on the aspect ratio (that is, ratio of length to thickness). The effects of high aspect ratio mica on the mechanical properties of thermosets and thermoplastics have been studied [1, 2]. Breakdown of mica particles during mixing and processing causes reduction of aspect ratio [3]. The use of hot runners, longer sprues and streamlining reduce particle breakdown [4]. Rheological properties [5 7] of mica-filled poly- olefins have