The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

This study presents the fabrication and investigation of the structural characteristics and properties of tire tread rubber using a hybrid filler system of nano silica-graphene oxide (Silica-GO). The filler system was dispersed into the rubber using two main methods: latex mixing and melt mixing. Structural morphology analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed that the Silica-GO filler particles were uniformly dispersed in the rubber matrix, with an average particle size of about 30 nm. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) also presented the good thermal stability of the rubber nanocomposite material. Regarding mechanical properties, when using the Silica-GO masterbatch at a content of about 7 phr, the material's tensile strength increased from 14 MPa (control tire tread sample) to 18 MPa. Most notably, abrasion loss decreased by up to 30% compared to the control tire tread sample, demonstrating a significant improvement that is difficult to achieve with precipitated silica. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed a higher Tanδ (tan delta) value in the low-temperature range, indicating improved tire grip. Conversely, in the higher temperature range, the Tanδ value was lower, signifying a trend of reduced rolling resistance, thereby helping to reduce wear and fuel consumption. These results demonstrate that reinforcement with the nano Silica-GO filler significantly improves both the static mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties of the tire tread rubber. This material has shown potential for application in the production of green tires with high performance and durability.