Elastomer compositions with silane functionalized silica as reinforcing fillers

Abstract

Certain embodiments described herein are directed to silane functionalized fillers that may be, for example, covalently coupled to a polymer. In some examples, devices that include the filler reinforced polymer compositions are also described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 reacting a filler with at least one silane coupling agent having the formula Q m -Si—Z n , where Z comprises one or more groups that can provide covalent attachment to the filler, Q is —R″-G or —CR′ 2 —CR′—R″-G, where R′ is a hydrogen or a fluorine, R″ is optional and is a linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl group, optionally containing one or more ether oxygen atoms and optionally fluorinated, G is a halogen, a nitrile group, or a vinyl group, and the sum of m+n is equal to four to covalently couple the silane to the filler; and   reacting the covalently coupled silane-filler with a polymer to covalently couple the polymer to the covalently coupled silane-filler.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming free radicals of the polymer during the reacting the covalently coupled silane-filler with a polymer to couple the polymer at unsaturated sites of the silane of the covalently coupled silane-filler. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising reacting the filler with the at least one silane until substantially all surface sites of the filler comprise the silane coupling agent. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising reacting the filler with the at least one silane coupling agent in the presence of an initiator. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing the covalently coupled polymer-silane-filler using one or more of a mixer, a mill, a mold, a calendering device and an extruder. 
     
     
         6 . A silane coupling agent having the formula of Q m -Si—Z n , where Z comprises one or more groups that can provide covalent attachment to a filler, Q is —R″-G or —CR′ 2 —CR′—R″-G, where R′ is a hydrogen or a fluorine, R″ is optional and is a linear or branched C1-C18 alkyl group, optionally containing one or more ether oxygen atoms and optionally fluorinated, G is a halogen, a nitrile group, or a vinyl group, and the sum of m+n is equal to four. 
     
     
         7 . The silane coupling agent of  claim 6 , in which Z is selected from a hydroxy, an alkoxy, an acyl-oxyl, a halogen and an amine. 
     
     
         8 . The silane coupling agent of  claim 6 , selected from the following formulae: