Filled Elastomers: Characteristics and Properties of Interfaces and Interphases, and Their Role in Reinforcement Processes

The dispersion of fillers in polymers is generally associated with an improvement of at least some of the properties (mechanical, thermal, electrical, etc.) of the corresponding macromolecular material. These phenomena are known to result from the interactions, which take place at the molecular level between the polymer and the surface of the filler and result in the formation of a so‐called interphase. It is, thus, of the utmost importance to be in a position to assess the characteristics of the latter. In this article, we will report on the particular case of elastomers interacting with reinforcing fillers—such as carbon black or silica—the information which may be provided by approaching the segmental mobility of a polymer in close proximity to a solid surface. In this respect, we will discuss the effect of compounding conditions on the adsorption of rubber chains (amount of adsorbed polymer, possible chain conformations, intensity of adsorption, filler/polymer networking) and examine the thermodynamic state of the corresponding elastomer by assessing the molecular mobility of the macromolecular chains through solid‐state NMR spectrometry, physical aging processes, and so on.

Keywords:

• Fillers
• Elastomers
• Reinforcement
• Interfaces
• Interphases