The infrared absorption of OH groups of thiolignin-SBR (styrene-butadiene copolymer) coprecipitate is situated at the higher frequency region than that of thiolignin itself, or that of the lignin in dry compounded lignin-SBR mixture. As reported previously, this fact means that some OH groups of lignin in the coprecipitate are set free from the hydrogen in lignin itself, and are able to interact with π electrons in SBR. However, if the same coprecipitate is kept in hot water, or hot pressed in the moistened state, the infrared absorption of OH group shifts near to that of lignin itself, and the reinforcing action of lignin is markedly decreases. Furthermore, the apparent density of the secondary bond ν
2 is estimatedfrom the difference of the network densities calculated from modulus and from degree of swelling. From the variation of ν
2 values with temperature the energy of this secondary bond is calculated approximately as 1.3kcal/mol, which is nearly equal to the proton-π electron interaction energy estimated from model experiment reported previously. This ν
2 value is larger than those other fillers, and it increases rapidly when the lignin content exceeds ca. 25phr, suggesting that the hydrogen bond existing among lignin particles also contribute to the reinforcement.
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