HYBRID SILANE TECHNOLOGY IN SILICA-REINFORCED TREAD COMPOUND

The use of a silane coupling agent in silica-reinforced tread can effectively improve silica dispersion in the rubber matrix and strengthen the interfacial interaction between the rubber and filler; this is beneficial to the enhancement of tire grip under wet conditions and reduces tire rolling resistance. The monofunctional silane n-octyltriethoxysilane (OTES) can react with the silanol group of the silica surface and hence improve silica dispersion. It can also suppress silica reaggregation during tire processing. Two hybrid silanes, OTES and 3-mercaptopropylethoxy-bis(tridecyl-pentaethoxy-siloxane) (Si747) or OTES and bis(triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT), were filled in silica-reinforced tread compounds. The effect of the two hybrid silanes on the silica was investigated via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The processing ability of the silica-filled compounds and the performance of the vulcanizates were also investigated. Our experimental results show that OTES is able to further react with the silica following reaction between the TESPT and silica and that it should be added when the molar amount of TESPT or Si747 is constant, to prevent reduction of the cross-link density. Furthermore, the addition of OTES can extend the scorch time, especially in Si747 and OTES compounds. In addition, OTES can improve silica dispersion and only has a slightly negative effect on the physical properties of vulcanizates.