EFFECT OF SILANE COUPLING AGENT ON THE CHEMORHEOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF EPOXIDIZED NATURAL-RUBBER FILLED WITH PRECIPITATED SILICA

Results of measurements of physical properties and solvent swelling of the extrudates indicate that epoxidised natural rubber (ENR) interact s chemically with precipitated silica when the mix of the two was extr uded at 150-170 degrees C in a Monsanto Processability Tester (MPT). T he extent of interaction between the rubber and the filler depends on the extrusion time, the volume fraction of the filler, the shear rate and the addition of the silane coupling agent, namely N-3-(N-vinyl ben zyl amino) ethyl-gamma-amino propyl trimethoxy silane monohydrochlorid e. The activation energy of the chemical interaction between ENR and s ilica decreases on the addition of the silane coupling agent. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.