P-5
Novel Dual Phase Coupling Agent for Silica/Carbon Black Hybrid Filler Containing Rubber Compounds

Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Prasad Raut1, Hamad Albehaijan1, Nicole Swanson2, Coleen Pugh, PhD3 and Sadhan C. Jana1, (1)Polymer Engineering, University of Akron, Akron, OH, (2)Polymer Science, University of Akron, Akron, OH, (3)Polymer Science, The University of Akron, Akron, OH
Fillers have important role in improving the dynamic performance of rubber compounds. Silica and carbon black possesses their own advantages. Hence, silica/CB blend is popular choice as a filler in rubber composites to achieve synergistic effects. Improvement in rubber-filler interaction and reduced filler-filler interaction leads to lower viscoelastic loss. Silane coupling agents are widely used in silica filled compounds to improve rubber-filler interactions. Very few studies are existing in literature on coupling agents for CB filled system.  This study investigates novel Polybutadiene-graft-poly(pentafluorostyene-co-trialkoxy(4-vinylphenethyl)silane)  [PB-g-P(PFS-co-StSi(OR)3] as a dual phase coupling agent for silica/CB hybrid filler systems. The silane in the backbone covalently bonds with silica particles and pentaflouorostyrene moiety couples with carbon black via π-π interactions. The coupling reactions are studied using FTIR and solid state NMR. It is anticipated that this dual coupling capability will lead to improved viscoelastic properties over traditional silane coupling agents.