'Preparation of 1,2-polybutadiene coated silica using thiol-ene click method and its reinforcement for styrene-butadiene rubber'

Hydrophobic silica coated with 1,2-polybutadiene (Silica-PBs) was prepared using thiol-ene click method. Infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the surface of Silica-PBs was coated with 1,2-polybutadiene with excess vinyl groups. The vulca-nized rubber prepared by blending Silica-PBs with styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) exhibited superior comprehensive properties compared to vulcanizate modified with silane coupling agents. Rubber processing analyzer and electron microscopy analysis demonstrated that Silica-PBs exhibited better dispersion in SBR, and could form "buffer zone" between the filler and rubber molecular chain, provi-ding a certain buffering effect when the filler slipped within the rubber molecular chain. Dynamic mechanical properties tests indicated that Silica-PBs improved the dynamic mechanical properties of SBR/Silica-PBs composites by more than 8% compared to traditional silica, and could be used as an ideal filler for green tires.