• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2012

The silica-silica interaction parameter (${\alpha}_F$) of the silane treated silica filled natural rubber (NR) compound was investigated. The measured ${\alpha}_F$ values using mass fraction method following Wolff's theory were compared with volume fraction method. As silica concentration increased, the ${\alpha}_F$ value increased for both methods. The value of ${\alpha}_F$ expressed as volume fraction was higher than that of mass fraction, which resulted in large gaps between ${\alpha}_F$ values. The effect of accelerator (MBT) concentration on ${\alpha}_F$ values was compared.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2012

The silica-silica interaction parameter (${\alpha}_F$) of the silane treated silica filled natural rubber (NR) compound was investigated. As silane (TESPT) concentration increased from 2 to 12% (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12%), the ${\alpha}_F$ value increased at the same silica concentration (10, 20, 30, and 40 phr). It seemed the sulfur atoms in TESPT acted as a crosslinking agent in the compound. As silica concentration increased from 10 to 40 phr, the ${\alpha}_F$ value increased at the same silane concentration due to increased silica-silica interaction.