Effect of multifunctional samarium lysine dithiocarbamate on curing properties, static and dynamic mechanical properties of SBR/silica composites

In this work, a novel multifunctional rubber agent named as samarium lysine dithiocarbamate (Sm-LDC) was synthesized by a nucleophilic addition reaction and coordination reaction. Then the influences of Sm-LDC on curing properties, and static and dynamic mechanical properties of SBR/SiO2 composites were studied. The results showed that Sm-LDC is not only capable of accelerating the vulcanization of SBR compounds even without zinc oxide (ZnO) and stearic acid (SA), also conducive to improve the crosslinked network. Notably, SBR/Sm-LDC/SiO2 composites exhibit superior static and dynamic mechanical properties in comparison with the SBR/SiO2 composite containing conventional accelerator zinc diethyl dithiocarbamate (ZDC), and activators ZnO and SA. Such improvement is attributable to the improved dispersion of SiO2, the enhanced filler-rubber interaction, and the high vulcanization and reinforcing efficiency of Sm-LDC. Accordingly, the excellent comprehensive performance may make Sm-LDC very competitive in the application in green tires and the preparation of high performance rubber composites.