Filler-polymer interactions in both silica and carbon black-filled styrene-butadiene rubber compounds

Bound rubber in a filled rubber compound is formed by physical adsorption a nd chemisorption between the rubber and the filler. Styrene-butadiene rubbe r (SBR) is composed of four components of styrene, cis-1,4, trans-1,4-, and 1,2-units. Filler-polymer interactions in both silica and carbon black-fil led SBR compounds were studied by analyzing microstructures of the bound ru bbers with pyrolysis-gas chromatography. Differences in the filler-polymer interactions of the styrene, cis-1,4-, trans-1,4-, and 1,2-units were inves tigated. The filler-polymer interactions of the butadiene units were found to be stronger than that of the styrene unit. The interactions of the cis-1 ,4- and trans-1,4-units were stronger with carbon black than with silica, w hereas the 1,2-unit interacted more strongly with silica than with carbon b lack. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.