Modified clay as a filler in rubber compounding

Abstract

Elastomer formulations have changed continuously in order to achieve optimum cost-performance characteristics. The surface modification of low cost mineral fillers had an impact on the rubber industry, because ii made possible to convert non reinforcing mineral fillers into reinforcing ones and displace expensive carbon black fillers from rubber compound. Therefore low cost mineral filler such as china clay has been upgraded by surface modification to obtain creditable performance as reinforcing filler in rubber industry. Also this modified filler has improved the quality of rubber compound through better dispersion of ingredients added to the mix. But primary advantage of the modification has been related to the interfacial adhesion between rubber and filler, since the modificator, acting as a surfactant provides the bond formation across modificator-clay interface as well as rubber-modificator interface.