Hydrophobic or Hydrophilic Fumed Silica as Filler of Polyurethane Adhesives

Abstract Two hydrophilic and two hydrophobic fumed silicas of different characteristics were added to solvent-based polyurethane adhesives (PU). IR spectroscopy, contact angle measurements and rheology (viscosity measurements, determination of viscoelastic properties) were used to monitor the variation of properties of PU adhesives produced by addition of silica. Immediate (green) adhesion was determined by T-peel testing of halogenated synthetic rubber/PU adhesive/halogenated synthetic rubber joints. Silica addition produced a noticeable increase in the PU adhesive viscosity which can be related to the variation of viscoelastic properties. Viscosity of PU adhesives containing hydrophilic silica slightly increased with time after preparation; the increase was less significant in PU adhesives with hydrophilic silica. In the rheological studies, silica imparted shear thinning and negative thixotropy to PU adhesives due to a better dispersion of the silica in the polyurethane during shearing. The addition of silica produces an increase in the storage modulus (G') of PU adhesives, the values obtained being independent of the hydrophilic or hydrophobic nature of the fumed silica. The increase of G' and the changes in tan δ of PU adhesives containing silica corresponded to an improvement in the green adhesion properties of chlorinated rubber/PU adhesive/chlorinated rubber joints. In general, in disagreement with previous results,1 the presence of silica did affect the properties of solvent-based PU adhesives, but these properties were not dependent on the type of silica (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) used in this study.