RAW MATERIALS AND APPLICATIONS Sepiolite as reinforcing Filler for Rubber Composites: From the chemical Compatibilization to the commercial Exploitation

Chemically modified sepiolite was used as filler in silica based elastomeric composites. The sepiolite was modified through the reaction with silica (nano) particles from silanes such as TEOS and TESPD. Characterization of silica (nano) particles and sepiolite was performed by means of dynamic light scattering, thermogravimetric, elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy. 

Reinforcing fillers are indispensable in gredients of rubber composites [1-2] and, among them, inorganic oxides/hyd roxides play a fundamental role. Indeed, since the end of the last century, silica in the precipitated form, with appropriate coupling agents [3-4], is the best filler for tyre compounds with low dissipation of energy and fuel consumption [1-2, 5-7]. Clays have been demonstrated and applied as efficient fillers in rubber composites, also in hybrid filler systems [8-12].