The influences of alkoxy group number and loading method of silane coupling agents on the mechanical properties of a styrene-butadiene ruber/silica composite were investigated. The pre-treatment method and the integral blend method were compared. In the case of mercapto functional silane, the 200% modulus was higher in the pretreatment than in the integral blend for dialkoxytype. However, it was higher in the integral blend than in the pre-treatment for trialkoxytype. The binding of rubber molecular chains by the silane chains on the silica surface was higher in the pre-treatment for dialkoxytype, where as it was higher in the integral blend for trialkoxy type. In the pre-treatment for dialkoxy type, a linear silane chain formed in the case of multi-layer coverage. The silane chain entangled with the rubber chain and improved the reinforcement effect. In the integral blend for trial koxy type, the formation of the silane network and the entanglement progressed simultaneously during the preparation process. A well entangled interfacial region was formed. In the case of polysulfide –type silane, the pre-treatment of silane with four sulfur atoms was more effective than that with two sulfur atoms for improving the 200% modulus. The sulfur atoms in the silane should contribute to the crosslinking of rubber in the vulcanization process. The silane with much sulfur atoms strengthens the interface effectively and raises the 200% modulus. The 1H pulse nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was measured for the unvulcanized rubber/silica mixture. The measured relaxation time was found to be in good correlation with the 200% modulus.

The influences of compatibilizer on mechanical properties of polypropylene (PP)/cellulose composites were investigated, comparing to PP/talc and PP/CaCO3 composites. The maleated polypropylene (PP-MAH) was used as compatibilizer. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed the interaction between the cellulose and PP-MAH was smallest among the cellulose, talc and CaCO3. According to scanning electron microscopy, the interfacial adhesion between PP and these fillers was improved by an incorporation of the PP-MAH. The tensile strength of the PP/filler composites was increased by the incorporation of the PP-MAH. The effect of the PP-MAH on tensile strength for cellulose is highest among for these three kinds of fillers. On the other hand, modulus of the PP/filler composites was hardly influenced by the incorporation of the PP-MAH. Impact strength of PP/talc and PP/CaCO3 composites was decreased by the incorporation of the PP-MAH. However, that of PP/cellulose composite was not influenced with the incorporation of the PP-MAH. These results indicated that the cellulose can be used as reinforcing filler for tensile strength, especially at the presence of compatibilizer.

Dicing and die bonding tapes (adhesive films) are used to the processes of semiconductor packages. For performing the processes efficiently, it is required to improve interface adhesive intensities between silicon chips and adhesive films. Thus, silane coupling agents are added to adhesive films. However, whether dispersion behavior of silane coupling agents has an effect on adhesive properties have little been revealed so far. Therefore, in this paper, we studied the influence of dispersion behavior of silane coupling agents to the adhesive properties so as to control interface adhesive intensity. The adhesive films, containing the different amounts and chemical structures of silane coupling agents, were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and XPS with sputtering using C60 cluster ions in some cases. The results of the XPS measurements indicated that silane coupling agents showed a different tendency to localize in the vicinity of the adhesive film surface and the tendency depends on the structure and the quantity of silane coupling agents. These findings suggested that the dispersion behavior of silane coupling agents in the vicinity of adhesive film surface was important to control the adhesive properties.