Effect of filler-polymer interfacial phenomena on fracture of SSBR-silica composites

The idea of partitioning the equilibrium fracture strength (G(0)) of adhesive joints into the contributions of cohesive (R), Interfacial (I) and Substrate (S) failures in is extended here for filled polymer composites. Using the silane spacer length and grafting density as tuning parameters, composites of silane treated silica-Solution Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SSBR) are prepared with controlled filler-polymer interfacial phenomena, and the mechanisms through which silane length modifies the fracture of composites is extracted. It was shown that chain length of silane greatly modifies the filler-filler and the filler-polymer energetic interactions. Tearing energy was assessed in trousers geometry and the share of matrix and the interface on the crack growth resistance of the composite is determined. The highest value of fracture strength was measured for composites having a balanced range of both dissipation characteristics and filler-polymer chemical compatibility.