Investigation on the radiation induced vulcanization of silica-elastomer blends: physical properties and filler-elastomer reaction mechanisms

The radiation induced crosslimking of SBR blends with pristine silica and silica modified by radiation grafting of polybutadiene oligomers has been investigated. Evidence was obtained by EPR and mechanical measurements of the formation of filler- SBR chemical bonds whose yield is enhanced by the polybutadiene coating.