Enhancement of Composite Material Properties Based on Aggregate Network Modulation

ABSTRACT Compounding technology and the theory of filled polymers have progressed substantially. Valuable insight from these developments is that carbon black‐filled wet rubber greatly enhances the filler's dispersion and dispersion state in the matrix. The enhanced dispersion noticeably improves the properties of the polymer. This paper systematically investigated the effects of silanization reactions on filler dispersion, interaction force, and aggregation networks. Their potential impact on polymers' properties was also evaluated. To this end, we evaluated the effects of different ratios of Si69 and silica fillers in wet and dry rubbers. For better characterization and utilization of the filler network structure, the filler–filler, filler–rubber, and rubber–rubber interactions were analyzed using the Mooney–Rivlin curve model. The results revealed that wet blending and silanization reactions primarily regulated the aggregate size and filler network strength. Increasing silica content improved the Payne effect. Notably, incorporating an appropriate filler content could effectively enhance rubber's physical and mechanical properties. This paper effectively optimized the structure and properties of filled polymers by controlling silanization reaction and applying wet mixing. This research contributes to the theoretical and experimental foundation of studies in relevant fields.