Reinforcing potential of acetone pretreatedCalamusdeerratusfibre as filler in Natural Rubber and Epoxidized Natural Rubber Vu lcanizates

Abstract

The present study investigated the potential of acetone pretreatedCalamusdeerratus fibre (CDF) on the cure characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of natural rubber, standard Nigerian rubber (SNR10) and epoxidized natural rubber, ENR - 20 vulcanizates. The results of the analyses revealed that both the untreated and acetone - treated CDF manifested reinforcing effects by enhancing the cure characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of the SNR10 and ENR-20 vulcanizates. The maximum torque, abrasion resistance, modulus, hardness and specific gravity of the filled vulcanizatesincreased while the cure time, scorch time, elongation at break and rebound resilience decreased with increasing filler loadings. The tensile strength increased to an optimum level, then decreasedthereafter with increasing filler loadings. Compared with the untreated CDF reinforced vulcanizates, the cure characteristics and physico-mechanical properties of the acetone treated CDF- filled SNR10 and ENR – 20 vulcanizates were significantly improved. The ENR-20 filled vulcanizates manifested higher tensile strength, maximum torque, abrasion resistance, modulus, hardness and specific gravity but lower elongation at break, scorch time, cure time and rebound resilience than SNR10- filled vulcanizates.