Change in Network Structures of Filled Rubbers in Mixing and Kneading Processes

—Discussion from the Viewpoint of Three Network Model—

Abstract

Filled rubbers are mixtures of polymers having low glass transition temperatures and inorganic fillers such as carbon black. Nanoparticle-filled rubbers include hierarchical network structures i.e. entanglement, bridged filler, and contact filler networks, due to polymer-polymer, polymer-filler, and filler-filler interactions, respectively. In this article, change in hierarchical network structures of filled rubbers in mixing and kneading processes are discussed from the viewpoint of Three Network Model.