Effects of Mixing History On the Secondary Structure of Fillers and the Mechanical Properties of Silica Filled Rubber Composites

A study was carried out on the mechanical properties of silica filled rubber composites in relation to the secondary structure formed by silica particles in the system, which the silica filled rubber composites were mixed at various conditions. The breakdown of the secondary structure was successfully detected by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations. The storage modulus (E’) at small strain decreased and Payne effect became smaller for silica filled rubber composites with mixing history. These results were related to the breakdown of the secondary structure of silica and its reagglomeration in the processing, which were influenced by the bound rubber formed in the mixing.