THE EFFECTS OF A CATIONIC SURFACTANT (FATTY DIAMINE) AND A COMMERCIALSILANE COUPLING AGENT ON THE PROPERTIES OF A SILICA FILLED NATURAL-RUBBER COMPOUND

The effects of a fatty diamine, termed a multifunctional additive (MFA ), and a commercial silane coupling agent on the properties of a silic a filled natural rubber compound have been studied. The MFA can functi on in its own right to improve mechanical properties. Together with th e silane coupling agent, a greater improvement in properties can be ob tained and their effects are, to some extent, additive. Swelling tests and dispersion measurements show that the use of the MFA and the sila ne coupling agent not only contributes to a better silica-elastomer ad herence but also improves dispersion, which results in a lower hystere sis. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd