Performance of different fillers in the reinforcement of rubber

White silica powder, low-structure and high-structure carbon blacks were used as fillers for rubber and were incorporated into them by dry or solvent-aided mixing methods. The bonding strength between filler and rubber was investigated by AFM, mechanical tests and a bonding test using solvent extraction with xylene. Results indicate that the silica has an excellent reinforcing performance at normal temperature, but the bond energy is weakened at high temperatures. High-structure carbon blacks exhibit excellent reinforcement and bonding stability at low to high temperatures, and vulcanized rubbers have the highest tensile strength and can withstand the highest tensile stress, and are considered the best fillers. Low-structure carbon blacks show an intermediate reinforcing performance between the silica and the high-structure carbon blacks, but their reinforcement is best at ultra high temperatures.