Effect of Silane Coupling Agent in Silica-Reinforced Natural Rubber/Epoxidized Natural Rubber Blends

EFFECT OF SILANE COUPLING AGENT IN SILICA-REINFORCED NATURAL RUBBER/EPOXIDIZED NATURAL RUBBER BLENDS

Andrew Antonitis¹, Nischay Kodihalli Shivaprakash¹, Artee Panwar¹, Carol Barry¹, Joey Mead¹

1) Center for High-Rate Nanomanufacturing, University of Massachusetts Lowell

ABSTRACT

Development of rubber compounds with enhanced performance is required to meet the demands of today's industry for superior material properties in a wide range of dynamic applications. Dynamic mechanical properties, in particular those of storage and loss moduli, as a function of strain are critical. In this work, the effect of a silane coupling agent in silica-reinforced Natural Rubber/Epoxidized Natural Rubber blends was studied with a rubber process analyzer. This approach allows the compounder to determine the cure behavior and dynamic properties of the compound simultaneously.