Coupling agent modification reaction process

Another approach of chemical modification of silica for rubber nanocomposite for the same aim, i.e. to reduce the filler-filler interaction, is differential microemulsion polymerization. In general, the process involves two main continuous steps (i) pre-treatment/chemical bonding of silica particles with coupling agent, and (ii) polymerization of the monomer in a reaction medium containing the pre-treated silica. The resultant product is a core-shell structure where nano-silica is the core encapsulated by a nanopolymer shell. 

In our work we used new modifiers in order to improve polymer-fiUer interactions. The modification process was carried out in Brabender mixer. During this process the coupling agent was grafted on the polymer macromolecule and then the reaction with chemical groups on the carbon black surface took place [5]. 

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