Effect of silica nanoparticles and modified silica nanoparticles on the mechanical and swelling properties of EPDM/SBR blend nanocomposites

Abstract The influences of nanosilica and modified nanosilica on cure, compression set, mechanical and swelling characteristics are studied in blends of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR). In EPDM/SBR composites, the nanosilica made from rice husk ash (RHA) was utilised as a reinforcing nanofiller. The interaction between the nanosilica and the EPDM/SBR matrix at the interface is crucial for the production of rubber composites. This study uses bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl] tetrasulfide (TESPT) and polyoxyethylene (20) sorbitan monolaurate (TWEEN-20) as a silica modifier, with the ratio of TESPT to TWEEN-20 maintained at 2:1. The cure and mechanical characteristics, compression set, abrasion and swelling resistance increased with the incorporation of nanosilica and modified nanosilica. By interacting at the interface between silica nanoparticles and the EPDM/SBR rubber matrix, TESPT with the TWEEN-20 modifier exhibits a considerable effect on cure characteristics, mechanical qualities, and swelling resistance.