Silica compounds have approximately the same static reinforcement as carbon black compounds, but they have disadvantages with respect to dynamic properties. In order to eliminate these disadvantages, examinations were carried out referring to the heat-treatment for them by means of a Banbury (1.8 litre volume). The process of this heat-treatment was as follows : The initial internal temperature of the Banbury was set at 80°C, supplying of cooling water was then stopped and the content was milled for 0, 10 arid 20 minutes while being heated by the heat produced at the stage of milling the sample.
As the result of this treatment, it was found that dynamic properties which were regarded as the disadvantages of silica, namely, heat-build-up, set, repulsive elasticity, and so on, could be made similar to those of carbon black. However, heat-treatment caused deterioration of polymer and formation of polymer gel together, and a large difference was found between properties of the compound. For example, characteristics due to elongation such as tensile strength, coefficient of elongation, tear resistance, and the like; or hardness were not improved by heat-treatment, and the afore-mentioned dynamic properties were considerably improved within a definite range. Accordingly, in order to limit the lowering of the former and to exhibit the latter more effectively, we tried to find optimum condition from those illustrated below :
Initial temperature of Banbury : 50, 80, 100 and 125°C
Duration of heat-treatment : 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 minutes.
As the result, a compound was obtained which exhibited nearly satisfactory physical properties and dynamic properties when the initial temperature was from 80° to 100°C and heat-treatment lasted from 10 to 15 minutes.
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