Investigating Treatment Methods of Silica Surface with Polymeric Agents and its Application in Rubbery Composites

In order to improve mechanical, dynamic and thermal properties of rubber compounds, use of reinforcing fillers such as silica is indeed needed. As an alternative to carbon black, nowdays, silica has gained a great deal of attention due to its effectiveness in reducing rolling resistance and consequently fuel consumption and air pollutants emission. Use of silica in rubber compouds is, however, accompanied by mixing diffulities, unacceptable dispersion and the strong tendency to flocculation which all originates from strong filler-filler and weak filler-polymer interactions. Therefore, to improve compatibility with rubber, treatment of silica surface with hydrocarbon agents seems reasonable. Various approaches including use of coupling agent have been proposed to fulfil this compatibility requirement. Moreover, in recent years efforts have been made to modify silica surface with polymeric agents in virtue of the resulting strong filler-polymer interaction which may lead to a nanocomposite structure. The present contribution deals with both available methods in treating silica surface with polymeric agents and utilization of these modified fillers in rubber systems.