Yuko IkedaSirilux PoompradubYuichi MoritaShinzo KohjiyaKyoto Institute of TechnologyKyoto UniversityChulalongkorn UniversityMahidol University2018-07-122018-07-122008-03-01Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology. Vol.45, No.3 (2008), 299-306092807072-s2.0-39149112223https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19405Effect of amines on an in situ silica generation in natural rubber was investigated, and n-hexylamine, n-heptylamine and n-octylamine were found to increase the in situ silica content. The nanometer sized silica particles up to ca. 80 parts per hundred rubber by weight were generated in situ in the rubber matrix via a sol-gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane. Additionally, dispersion of the silica in the rubbery matrix was more homogeneous than that of commercial silica dispersed by a conventional mechanical mixing. In this in situ silica generation, the polarity and solubility in water of amine were influential factors for controlling the in situ silica content in the rubbery matrix. The obtained high in situ silica filled natural rubber was useful to prepare high performance nanocomposite elastomers. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.Mahidol UniversityMaterials ScienceArticleSCOPUS10.1007/s10971-008-1682-7