Silica-reinforced rubber compounded with mercaptosilanes and alkyl alkoxysilanes

摘要

The invention provides a sulfur vulcanizable silica-reinforced elastomeric compound having improved tensile mechanical and dynamic viscoelastic properties. The compounds are formed by mixing an elastomer optionally having an alkoxysilane terminal group, with silica in the presence of an alkyl alkoxysilane for desired processability and a mercaptosilane for increasing the bound rubber content. In particular, the mercaptosilane and the alkyl alkoxysilane are present in a ratio of a maximum of 0.14:1. Preferably, the mercaptosilane and the alkyl alkoxysilane are compounded with the elastomer and the silica at high temperature in the first mixing stage.