Reinforcing styrene‐butadiene rubber composites by constructing multiple interaction between rubber and silica

Reinforcing rubber is of great significance in material science and engineering. In this work, a kind of ionic liquid, 1‐allyl‐3‐methyl‐imidazolium chloride (AMI) was used as compatibilizer in styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR)/silica composites. AMI and bis(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl)‐tetrasulfide (TESPT) were used together to construct multiple interactions of covalent bonds, cation–pi interaction as well as hydrogen bonds between silica and SBR chains. After introducing TESPT and AMI, vulcanization rate of SBR/silica composites and crosslink density of the rubber vulcanizates increased obviously. Moreover, better dispersion of silica in SBR matrix as well as stronger interaction between silica and SBR chains was achieved. Additionally, the mechanical properties of rubber vulcanizates were improved remarkably compared with the vulcanizates with TESPT or AMI individually. When compared with only introducing one kind of interaction between silica and SBR to reinforce SBR/silica composites, this work of constructing multiple interactions between silica and SBR is of valuable reference in preparing high‐performance rubber/silica composites. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1740–1747, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers