Preparation and performance of silica/SBR masterbatches with high silica loading by latex compounding method

Abstract With the help of a new coupling agent Si747, silica water slurry and styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) latex were successfully co-coagulated by the latex compounding method, even silica/SBR masterbatches with silica loading as high as 200 phr could be prepared by such method. Compared to the traditional dry blending method, the latex compounding method had lower energy consumption during mixing and better silica dispersion in rubber matrix. Meanwhile, the effect of the amount of silica in the SBR latex on the properties of silica/SBR composites was investigated, and the results showed that the larger the amount of silica in the rubber matrix, the stronger the filler network. The performance of these composites was good and the dispersion of silica was relatively homogeneous. Furthermore, the masterbatches with high silica loading were mixed with emulsion polymerized styrene–butadiene rubber (ESBR) or solution polymerized styrene–butadiene rubber (SSBR). The silica dispersed better in ESBR than in SSBR.