In the rubber industry, one of the most widely practiced processes is
the reinforcement of rubber by particulate fillers, especially carbon
black and silica. This process is of such importance that more than 99%
of rubber products contain fillers, and the research and development of
fillers have become the most widely researched area in rubber science
and technology. This book covers the most important theoretical and
practical aspects of rubber reinforcement, such as filler basic
properties and their characterization methods, the effect of fillers in
polymers, the processability of compounds, and the properties of filled
vulcanizates. Special chapters deal with applications of fillers in
tires and industrial rubber goods and the reinforcement of silicone
rubbers. Testing methods and their principles, applications, and
limitations are reviewed, with emphasis on the surface activity, widely
accepted as the "third dimension" of filler characterization, after
particle size and structure. This has not been described in depth in
other books on rubber reinforcement. The effects of fillers on rubber
and their mechanisms, which are important links between filler
properties and the performance of rubber goods, are explained. A guide
for selecting the most appropriate reinforcing systems for specific
applications is provided, taking into account processabilities and
properties of filled compounds and performance of rubber products. With
solutions to many practical problems related to rubber research and
compounding, this book serves as a valuable companion to engineers and
product developers in the rubber industry, material scientists, and
teachers and students in material science and rubber courses.
