Properties of silica-filled rubber compounds vs. epoxidized oil content and degree of epoxidation

Abstract Epoxidized vegetable oils are well-known as biobased, sustainable additives for polymers. However, relatively little work has been done to explore their effects on silica-filled rubber composites in depth. In order to address this knowledge gap, high purity epoxidized soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) oils with varying levels of epoxidation were synthesized and compounded with a model silica-filled styrene-butadiene rubber formulation. The green properties, process characteristics, and cured properties (quasi-static and dynamic mechanical characteristics) of the resultant compounds were then assessed. A ∼7 % decrease in mixing energy was observed with the inclusion of ∼0.8 vol% of 100 % epoxidized soybean oil. Changes in cure kinetics and dynamic mechanical properties were observed as a function of epoxy group concentration. The changes in dynamic mechanical properties are explained in terms of changes in silica dispersion state as a consequence of epoxidized soybean oil addition.