Prediction of mechanical and functional features of aged rubber composites based on BR/SBR; Structure-properties correlation

Abstract

In this study, the structure-properties relationship between the thermal factors of BR/SBR blends [normalize factor(hBR100/hBR100-hBRx) and the maximum peak temperature difference of thermal decomposition of BR and SBR(ΔTmax= TBRmax-TSBRmax)] with their aging time (1 to 40 days) was demonstrated using DTG profile of uncured compounds. The correlation between these two thermal factors with aging time yielded a linear equation with an acceptable correlation coefficient (R2 ≥ 0.95). By the obtained linear model the aging time of rubber compounds based on BR / SBR was predicted. In the second step, the curing behavior and mechanical characteristics of tire tread formulation based on BR/SBR were forecasted using the aging time of compounds, without time-consuming and costly tests. In all cases, the accuracy and reproducibility of obtained data were evaluated.