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Studies show that the dispersion of silica in the mixing process is an important factor affecting the wear of the mixing chamber. As the most important mixing equipment, the long operational life of the internal mixer will cause wear in the rotor and chamber of the internal mixer. This wear increases the gap between the rotor and chamber of the internal mixer, reduces the mixing performance, weakens the dispersion of packing, and adversely affects the quality of the rubber produced. Therefore, it is important to investigate the metal wear in the mixing process. This article examines the effect of the addition of different amounts of silane coupling agents on metal friction and wear during the mixing process. The silane coupling agent has two functions. The first is to make the surface of the silica hydrophobic, enabling it to combine the inorganic matrix of the silica with the organic matrix of the rubber; the second is to inhibit the aggregation of the silica in the rubber. In the present study, we examine (1) the influence of different formulations on the friction and wear of the metal in the mixing chamber from the perspective of formulation technology, and (2) the correlation between corrosion wear and abrasive wear. It is found that a rubber compound with 6 phr of TESPT has the lowest metal wear and that adding more TESPT does not affect the degree of metal wear. As the amount of TESPT increases, the proportion of abrasive wear decreases, while the proportion of corrosive wear increases, reaching a maximum of 20.7%. In our study we found that abrasive wear is the predominant wear mechanism of a rubber compound on metal. In contrast, the corrosive wear caused by high-temperature water vapor still occupies a large proportion of the total wear. Therefore, improving silica dispersion and reducing abrasive wear are extremely important methods to protect the mixing chamber. However, the corrosion of metals by high-temperature water vapor should also be considered when preparing for the mixing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gap between the rotor and the mixer chamber wall is an important factor in determining filler dispersion in rubber compounds. The inner wall of a mixer will wear after working for a long time, which will cause poor filler dispersion and affect the quality of rubber products. In this study, MoDTC was added to carbon black as a kind of filler, and the effect on filler dispersion, the properties of the rubber product, and the friction and wear of rubber and metal in the mixing process were examined. Experimental data showed that after adding 3 phr of MoDTC, carbon black dispersion was greatly improved, the curing time was shortened, and the performance remained stable. It was also found that the Mo element of the compound with 3 phr MoDTC dispersed better than that of the other compounds. Most importantly, adding 3 phr of MoDTC greatly reduced the amount of wear on the metal during the mixing process. However, the opposite effect occurred when the MoDTC content was high. The method proposed in this study can not only improve filler dispersion in rubber but also reduce metal wear to prolong the service life of the mixing chamber when applied to an actual mixing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a piece of high-intensity running equipment, the wear of an internal mixer determines the quality of rubber and its life. In general, the wear of an internal mixer is caused by the friction between the rubber and metal during the mixing process, and the most severe wear position is the end face of the equipment. In this paper, a mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon fibers (CFs) are added to rubber by mechanical compounding to obtain MWCNT/CF/carbon black (CB) composites. By investigating the synergistic mechanism of MWCNTs and CFs, we analyze the effect of the MWCNT/CF ratio on the frictional wear of metal on the end face of the internal mixer. At the microscopic level, MWCNTs and CFs form a spatial meshwork with CB particles through synergistic interactions. The CB particles can be adsorbed on the spatial meshwork to promote the dispersion of CB particles. In addition, the formation of oil film can be slowed down due to the spatial meshwork, which could hinder the spillage of aromatic oil. Meanwhile, the spatial meshwork serves as a physical isolation layer between the rubber and metal to reduce friction. Therefore, it dramatically impacts the dispersion degree of CB particles, the friction coefficient, the roughness of the surface, and the wear of metal. It shows that the synergistic effect of MWCNT/CF and CB particles is best when the CF content of the rubber matrix is 5 phr, showing the most stable spatial network structure, the best dispersion of CB particles, and minor wear on the end face of the internal mixer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]