In the field of shoe materials, natural rubber (NR) is widely used due to its irreplaceable anti-slip performance. Considering the increasing demand for lightweight shoe materials, hollow microsphere (HGM) is recognized as an ideal weight-reducing filler, due to its low density, low cost, and high strength. However, the inherent chemical inertness of HGM makes it difficult for conventional coupling systems to regulate the interfacial compatibility between HGM and the rubber matrix, resulting in a decrease in the mechanical properties of the composite materials. In this study, a hydrothermal activation method was employed to increase the surface roughness and the number of active hydroxyl groups on the surface of HGM. This allowed the silane coupling agent KH550 to be efficiently grafted onto the surface of HGM and enhanced the interaction between HGM and NR. Under the combined effects of hydrothermal activation and coupling modification, HGM achieved improved compatibility with NR. The lightweight rubber material prepared in this way exhibited a tensile strength of 9.26 MPa and a tear strength of 45.49 N/mm, with a specific gravity of 0.89. Herein, this study not only achieved the lightweight modification of NR but also endowed HGM with reinforcing effects, providing a new strategy for the multifunctional application of HGM and the development of new types of shoe materials.
                    Previous Article in event
            
                            
    
                    Next Article in event
            
                            
                                                    
        
                    The activation modification of hollow glass microspheres and their application in lightweight rubber-based shoe materials
                
                                    
                
                
                    Published:
29 October 2025
by MDPI
in The 4th International Online Conference on Materials
session Soft Matter, Biomaterials, Composites and Interfaces
                
                
                
                    Abstract: 
                                    
                        Keywords: hollow glass microspheres;  shoe material; lightweight modification; natural rubber; hydrothermal activation
                    
                
                
                 
         
            

 
        
    
    
         
    
    
         
    
    
         
    
    
         
    
