Silane pre-treated silica produced by ball milling and its reinforcing effects on an industrial rubber compound

A precipitated silica pre-treated with organosilane bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl]tetrasulphide (TESPT) was produced using an industrially applicable ball milling coupled with oven heating method. The effectiveness of silanisation on the silica that reacted with TESPT via the unique preparation method was characterised by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), water dispersal, bound rubber content (BRC), mixing and compound behaviours compared to an untreated silica. The silanisation reactions were effectively realised and the dispersion of the pre-treated silica in rubber matrix was improved after the silica was processed through multiple stages two-roll-mill mixing in producing a pre-treated silica masterbatch (PSiMB). Subsequently, various dosages of the PSiMB were loaded into an industrial rubber compound. The physical, cure and mechanical properties of the vulcanisates were investigated. It was observed that the cure initiation, hardness, crosslink density and mechanical properties of the vulcanisates were enhanced after the rubber compounds were reinforced using the PSiMB.