Characterization of bound rubber of filled styrene-butadiene rubber compounds using pyrolysis-gas chromatography

Variation in the composition of the bound rubber of filled styrene-butadien e rubber (SBR) compounds was studied using pyrolysis-gas chromatography (py rolysis-GC). The compositions of the bound rubber and the compounded carbon black- and silica-filled SBR rubbers were analyzed and compared. Results o f the pyrolysis-GC analysis showed that the ratio of the butadiene/styrene components was higher in the bound rubber than in the compounded rubber. Th is phenomenon was more pronounced in the carbon black-filled compound than in the silica-filled one. This was explained by the filler-polymer interact ions and differences in bond dissociation energies of the styrene and butad iene units. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.