Abstract
Styene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was modified with γ-mercaptpropyltrimethoxysilane (γ-MPS) by photo graft reaction for improvement of mechanical properties of silica filled vulcanizates. It was possible to modify the SBR compounded γ-MPS and photo-initiator, for example benzophenone, under irradiation of the UV fluorescent lamp. The mechanical properties of modified valcanizates were superior to non-modified one. It was clear that this modification remarkably improved the interaction between SBR and silica from the result of the bound rubber thickness estimated by Pliskin′s method. However, because of rubber gelation, compounding must be done immediately after irradiation, and some antioxidants disturbed this modification.
