Concurrently improved dispersion and interfacial interaction in rubber/nanosilica composites via efficient hydrosilane functionalization

Surface modification of fillers has a profound influence on the dispersion of filler and interfacial adhesion, and thus the final performance of polymer-based composites. In this contribution, the modification of silica by polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) is conducted via an efficient and fast tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane-catalyzed functionalization, which can be completed within a few minutes at room temperature. A highly hydrophobic surface and an uncompromised reactivity are concurrently observed in the modified silica. By comparison between the composites filled with pristine and modified silica, it is revealed that such PMHS modification can not only improve the dispersibility of silica by lowering the surface energy, but also enhance the interfacial interaction in virtue of the reactivity of the residual Si-H bonds. With a PMHS grafting content as low as 1.5 wt%, the modified composite exhibits tremendous improvements in mechanical properties (116% increase in modulus) and dynamic performances (116% increase in wet traction and 26% reduction in rolling resistance). Considering the superior overall performance of the modified composites, together with the simplicity and rapidity of the modification process, we envision that the hydrosilane-modified silica has great potential in the fabrication of high-performance polymer composites such as energy-saving tire treads.