Research on Payne effect of natural rubber reinforced by graft-modified silica

Silica (SiO2) modified by in situ solid-phase grafting was used for natural rubber (NR) reinforcement. The physical mechanical properties and Payne effect of natural rubber reinforced by SiO2 and graft-modified silica (G-SiO2) were analyzed systematically. The results showed the comprehensive performance of NR/G-SiO2 was better than that of NR/SiO2. There was a proportional relationship between the filler loading and Payne effect. NR/G-SiO2 presented weaker Payne effect in comparison with NR/SiO2. A qualitative analysis on the correlation of filler 3D network structure and filler loading was carried out according to the relationship between the bound rubber content and the shear modulus. The Payne effect mechanisms of rubber compounds differed according to the different filler loading. (C) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc