Advancing the futureof rubber compounding
Performance-engineered precipitated silica

Translating technical knowledge
into rubber performance

A global pioneer
Precipitated silica is colorless, odorless and chemically inert,
yet the interaction between silica particles and rubber is so
important for the performance of composites that few rubbercompounders regard it as a commodity product.
That is why, for more than 80 years, high-quality rubber
manufacturers around the world have chosen to make PPG
silica products integral to their product formulations. Manyof these global relationships took root in the 1930s, whenengineers from our Barberton, Ohio plant first began
working with rubber producers in nearby Akron to explore
the potential for synthetic precipitated silica products asreinforcing fillers.

Today, that dual legacy of innovation and customer
collaboration endures. With manufacturing operations in
Lake Charles, Louisiana; Barberton, Ohio; and Delfzijl,Netherlands; and a growing network of international
distributors, PPG is strategically positioned to deliver its
broad range of precipitated silica solutions to customers
throughout the world.
With the introduction of chemically-modified PPG AGILON®
performance silica and other advanced products, PPG continues
to develop products that enable rubber manufacturers tocreate goods that last longer, perform better and contributeto a healthier, safer and more sustainable planet.

PRECIPITATED SILICA SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RUBBER APPLICATIONSPAGE 2

Teamwork, chemistry and rubber expertise
For many leading rubber compounders and manufacturers,a principle benefit of working with PPG is access to its
extraordinary technical capabilities.
During its history, PPG has accumulated vast institutional
knowledge about the formulation and performancecharacteristics of precipitated silica and how silica form
and function affect rubber chemistry. As a consequence,
PPG scientists and technical service experts often are
called upon to help customers develop and refine productsthat better meet increasingly challenging performance
demands.
The PPG Monroeville Business and Technical Center
supports this collaborative model. Located near PPG’s
global headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA,the facility houses a full-scale pilot plant and laboratories
containing a wide range of ingredients, mixing equipment
and process technologies.

The PPG Monroeville Business and Technical Centerhouses a full-scale pilot plant and testing laboratory,including tensile testing equipment.

Together, these materials and equipment enable PPG
scientists and technical service experts to replicate theentire product development process – from experimental
silica manufacturing to production, testing and analysis
of customized rubber compounds.

Products and performance for every application
PPG offers a full range of industry-leading silica products.
In addition to optimized processing characteristics suchas faster cure rates, easier mixing, improved flow, or more
flexible extrusion and color-compounding capabilities, PPG’ssilica technologies also impart specific properties to finishedhigh-performance products.
Compared to rubber compounds using carbon black fillers
with similar surface areas, these characteristics include:• Increased stiffness and reinforcing strength• Enhanced resistance to heat build-up• Better tear strength with equal tensile strength• Improved color retention and/or translucence• Superior chip and chunk resistance• Extended product life in high-temperature environments

PRECIPITATED SILICA SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RUBBER APPLICATIONSPAGE 3PPG HI-SIL reinforcing silica fillers®

When we introduced PPG HI-SIL® precipitated silica in 1948, it represented an industry
breakthrough. In addition to being more dispersible than other reinforcing fillers of the era,
Hi-Sil silica products were the first of their kind to be cost-competitive with carbon black.
Today, Hi-Sil reinforcing fillers remain among the best-known and most trusted brands in theindustry, encompassing a broad range of materials engineered to help end-users achieve
specific processing and performance requirements.
As with the original Hi-Sil product, each silica synthesis is skillfully controlled by PPG forsurface area, particle size and other physical properties to regulate finished characteristics
such as reinforcing strength, dispersibility, viscosity, cure-rate, compression set, andabrasion-, tear- and temperature-resistance.

Semi-reinforcing fillers
PPG semi-reinforcing fillers are designed with lower surface areas to limit stiffness, lower
compression-set, control heat build-up and improve dynamic modulus and resilience.
As a result of their lower surface areas, these silicas provide excellent flow, smootherextrusions and faster cure rates than high-surface-area silica products.

Typical Properties – Semi-Reinforcing
ProductN2 Surface Area,
pH
BET-5 (m2/g)		

ResidualSalt Type

Physical FormSource Country		PPG SILENETM 732D

33

8.5

Na2SO4Powder

United States

Hi-Sil 532EP

55

8.0

Na2SO4Powder

United States

Reinforcing fillers
PPG reinforcing fillers are formulated to strike a balance between desired physical properties
such as stiffness, tensile strength, heat- and abrasion-resistance and processing ease.

Typical Properties – Reinforcing
ProductHi-Sil EZ80G-D

N2 Surface Area,pH
BET-5 (m2/g)		

Residual
Salt Type

Physical Form

Source Country		GranuleNetherlands

80

6.5

Na2SO4Hi-Sil EZ90G-D

90

6.5

Na2SO4Granule

Netherlands

Hi-Sil 315-D

125

7.0

Na2SO4Granule or Powder

Netherlands

Hi-Sil 210

135

7.0

NaCl

PelletUnited States

Hi-Sil 233

135

7.0

NaCl

PowderUnited States

Hi-Sil 243LD

135

7.0

NaCl

GranuleUnited States

Hi-Sil 900

135

7.0

Na2SO4Powder

United States

Hi-Sil 135

150

7.0

Na2SO4Powder

United States

Hi-Sil 233-D

150

7.0

Na2SO4Powder

Netherlands

Hi-Sil HDP-320

160

7.0

Na2SO4Granule or Powder

United StatesHi-Sil EZ160G-D

160

7.0

Na2SO4Granule

Netherlands

Hi-Sil EZ160G160

7.0

Na2SO4Granule

United States

PRECIPITATED SILICA SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RUBBER APPLICATIONSPAGE 4

Highly reinforcing fillers
PPG highly reinforcing silica products are engineered to maximize tensile strength, compoundstiffness, thermal-resistance, abrasion-resistance and other wear properties.

Typical Properties – Highly Reinforcing
Product

N2 Surface Area,
pH
BET-5 (m2/g)		

Residual
Salt Type

Physical Form

Source Country		

Hi-Sil 255C-D

175

6.3

Na2SO4Granule or Powder

Netherlands

Hi-Sil 134180

7.0

Na2SO4

Granule or Powder

United States

Hi-Sil 190G

195

6.5

Na2SO4

GranuleUnited States

Hi-Sil 915

195

7.0

Low Na2SO4Powder

United States

Hi-Sil EZ200G

300

7.0

Na2SO4

GranuleUnited States

Silica and the dynamics of dispersibility
Rubber compounders around the world favor PPG silica
products for their excellent dispersion characteristics.
Dispersibility and incorporation time of silica into rubbercompounds is determined by many factors beyond theformulation of the product itself, including mixer type, rotor
design, silica loading, polymer system and the size andphysical form of the finished silica particles.
PPG manufactures products with HDS-like physicalproperties, many of which are identified by the “EZ”
designation in the brand name; however, rubbercompounders are encouraged to consult their PPG
sales and technical representatives to determine whichsilica grades are most appropriate for their specificapplications.

PRECIPITATED SILICA SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RUBBER APPLICATIONSPAGE 5PPG AGILON performance silica products®

A new technology platform for enhanced dynamic properties
and extended wear resistanceFor decades, industrial rubber manufacturers and custom-mixers have fine-tuned compoundswith the same additives and ingredients, producing incremental improvements in processing
and performance.
PPG AGILON® performance silica products are engineered to change that dynamic. Basedon proprietary technology, Agilon performance silica products are made by reacting silica, silane
and functional additives during the precipitation process, resulting in a single, advanced
compounding ingredient.

The processing advantages of carbon black with the reinforcing strengthof high-surface-area silica
The result of this innovative process is a next-generation reinforcing silica that combines theperformance benefits of a premium, silane-coupled precipitated silica – including exceptional
resistance to abrasion, tear and heat build-up – with the process advantages of carbon black.
Because of their unique composition and elevated performance characteristics, Agilon
silica products can help rubber compounders overcome the limitations associated withconventional filler products; offering instead, a powerful new platform for experimentation in awide range of high-friction, high-heat and dynamic-motion applications such as brake pads,
printing blankets, motor mounts, ultra-long conveyor belts and more.

Less complexity, more diversity
In addition, because in-situ mixing of silica and silane no longer takes place at the plant level,
Agilon performance silica products can help rubber manufacturers ease process complexity,
address environmental concerns and reduce capital investment by enabling them to:• Process silica compounds using older mixing technologies• Increase silica throughput by reducing mix times and/or passes• Mix at high temperatures without increasing viscosity or causing premature vulcanization• Mix at lower temperatures to avoid degradation of natural rubber• Extend the shelf life of uncured rubber• Minimize process-related energy consumption• Eliminate most alcohol-related VOC emissions
In addition, Agilon performance silica, when used at a maximum level of 60 phr, may be
used in the manufacture of repeated-use rubber food-contact articles. It complies fully with
the United States Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and all applicable food additive
regulations, including the applications described under section 177.2600.

Typical Properties – Agilon Performance Silica
ProductDispersibility Reinforcing		
Capability			

CTABSurface
Area (m2/g)

N2 (BET-5)
Surface
Area (m2/g)

				Agilon 400
HighHigh14075
Agilon 454

HighHigh200

140SH,
Weight%Carbon, pH
Residual Salt
Weight 			%			Physical Form Type

0.5

4.0

6.5

Na2SO4Granule or Powder

0.5

4.0

6.5

Na2SO4

Granule or Powder

N2 (BET-5) surface area test results are impacted by the surface treatment applied to Agilon performance silicas.
Customers should reference CTAB surface area values as a better predictor of this material’s reinforcement capability.
PRECIPITATED SILICA SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RUBBER APPLICATIONSPAGE 6

Conventional rubber compounding vs PPG AGILON® performance silica technology

Conventional Rubber Compounding
SilicaSilaneAgilon Performance Silica Technology

Ethanol VOC

Agilon Performance Silica

In traditional rubber manufacturing, silica and silane often are mixed during the compounding process. With Agilon
performance silica, silica and silane are reacted during the silica production process and delivered as a single advanced
compounding ingredient, reducing mix times, increasing throughput and cutting emissions, all while imparting premium
performance characteristics.

PPG’s silica products by performance attribute
Industrial Rubber Product SelectorPPG Silica Categories

Abrasion Resistance
Tear Strength
Tensile Strength
ReboundProcessing
Mix Time
Heat Build-Up
Compression-Set
Stiffness

Semi-Reinforcing Reinforcing

Highly Reinforcing

Agilon Performance Silica•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••No Silane

No Silane

No Silane

Silane Treated• Good• • Better• • • BestPRECIPITATED SILICA SOLUTIONS FOR INDUSTRIAL RUBBER APPLICATIONSPAGE 7

To learn more about about our silica products,
please visit www.ppgsilica.com
USAPPG Silica Products440 College Park Drive
Monroeville, PA 15146 USA
1-800-243-6745

EUROPE
PPG Delfzijl Plant
P.O. Box 181
9930 AD Delfzijl, Netherlands+31-596-676710

Statements and methods presented are based upon the best available information and practices
known to PPG Industries at present, but are not representations or warranties of performance,
result or comprehensiveness. Further, the information provided herein, including any specificreference to patents of other persons or entities, is not to be taken as a license to operate underor a recommendation to practice any patents, copyrights, or any other intellectual property rightof any person or entity.
©2019 PPG Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Silene is a trademark and Agilon, Hi-Sil and the PPG logo
are registered trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.

Personal attention, on a global scale

Right-sized customer service

At PPG, we’re committed to the success of the global
rubber industry and our customers. That pledge is reflectedin our ongoing pursuit of groundbreaking technicaldevelopments as well as reliable delivery and consistentsilica product performance.

Even more valuable are the benefits of world-classtechnical service and sales support. As a multi-billion dollar
global company, PPG has the ability to deliver its products
and services to customers in every part of the world. Yet, as
a dedicated business within that organization, the PPG’s
Silica Products group provides the personalized focus of asmall, family-owned company, supplying a broad portfolioof materials in a variety of package sizes and pallet
configurations to best meet customer needs.

Consistent quality with every application
Along with industry-leading testing, analytical and problemsolving capabilities, PPG maintains state-of-the-art processcontrols at its manufacturing plants and follows strictly thequality standards and testing methodologies established by
the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) andInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO).
These rigid quality standards ensure that our products
consistently maintain stated values for surface area,
moisture, pH content and other critical manufacturing
specifications, as long as they are properly storedand handled.

Whether the goal is to improve an existing compoundor to explore the potential of an entirely new technology
platform, PPG offers the global resources and personal
attention needed to help industrial rubber manufacturers
meet today’s demands and anticipate tomorrow’s
challenges.

2886 EN 0419