Correlations in rheological behavior between large amplitude oscillatory shear and steady shear flow of silica‐filled star‐shaped styrene‐butadiene rubber compounds: Experiment and simulation

Abstract The large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS) and steady shear behavior of star‐shaped SSBR/silica 60 phr (21 vol%) compounds with various filler surface areas was measured and simulated. An SBR gum and SBR compounds containing four different silicas with surface areas of 55, 135, 160, and 195 m 2 /g were utilized. Rheological behavior indicated clear correlation with surface area. LAOS tests showed an increase in dynamic moduli, shear stress, and higher order harmonic contributions with surface area. Elastic and viscous Lissajous figures showed significant distortion at intermediate and higher strain amplitudes. Additionally, ratios of third and fifth order stress harmonics to the first stress harmonic ( I 3/1 and I 5/1 , respectively) showed a ''bump'' at intermediate strain amplitudes for the three highest surface area compounds. With regards to steady shear, all materials showed strong shear thinning behavior, and an increase in shear viscosity with surface area. The Cox‐Merz rule was shown to be valid for the SBR gum but not for the filled compounds. However, the complex viscosity as a function of shear rate amplitude at various frequencies at high strain amplitudes and the steady shear viscosity as a function of shear rate coincided. This correlation, referred to as the Philippoff approach, has important ramifications for the rubber industry, providing quick data for predicting processing behavior. The Simhambhatla‐Leonov model was successfully employed to simulate rheological behavior for the SBR gum and the lowest surface area silica compound, but the model yielded mixed results for the higher surface area silica compounds.