Silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber in the existence of palmitamide: Vulcanization properties and reinforcement index

Abstract

By applying one semi EV vulcanization system; the influences of palmitamide on vulcanization properties and reinforcement index of silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) compounds were observed. The palmitamide was lab-prepared from urea and palmitic acid and added into the silica-filled SBRat1, 3, 5 and 7phr. It was revealed that the palmitamide was a curative material which decreased theoptimum cure timebut increased the maximum and change in torques of the silica-filled SBR compounds. The bigger the palmitamide loading, the shorter was the optimum cure time. It was also revealed that palmitamide was an extra plasticizing material which decreased minimum torque. The reinforcement index, tensile moduli and tensile strength were increased up to a 3.0 phr of palmitamide concentration. The enhancement in those properties was due to the enhancement in crosslinks as well as cure state of the compounds of silica-filled SBR.