Influences of purification and surface treatment of sugarcane bagasse ash on mechanical properties of natural rubber composites

Abstract

Attempts to use bagasse ash (BA) as a filler in natural rubber (NR) have been made. Acidolysis/alkaline extraction method was used to purify BA. The purified BA (PBA) was subsequently characterized by various techniques such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and so forth. After the purification, PBA had a lower particle size and a higher specific surface area. XRD results showed that silica was the main composition of PBA while FTIR results revealed the existence of hydroxyl groups on the PBA surface. The reinforcement magnitude of PBA in NR was subsequently evaluated both without and with the addition of surface modifying agents, namely, bis‐3‐triethoxysilylpropyl tetrasulfide (TESPT) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). Due to its large particle size, PBA acted as a semi‐reinforcing filler for NR, that is, the small increases of hardness, modulus and tensile strength were observed in the presence of PBA. As TESPT and ENR could improve the extent of rubber‐filler interaction, mechanical properties of the NR vulcanizates filled with PBA‐TESPT and PBA‐ENR were slightly higher than those of the PBA‐filled NR vulcanizate. For instance, tensile strength exhibited approximately 22% increase after the surface treatment. In this study, both PBA‐TESPT and PBA‐ENR showed comparable degree of reinforcement.

The effects of the cross‐linking mechanism of low doses of gamma irradiation on the mechanical, thermal, and viscoelastic properties of the natural rubber latex/poly(styrene‐block‐isoprene‐block‐styrene) block copolymer blend

“…A similar finding of smooth surface of neat NRL has been found in previous studies. [32,33] Upon blending, the FESEM micrograph of the 70 NRL /30 SIS blend shows smooth surfaces and decreased domain size of the dispersed phases, implying good dispersion of SIS in the NRL matrix (Figure 3D). The good miscibility phenomenon between NRL and SIS explains the increase of tensile strength and Young's modulus in the 70 NRL /30 SIS blend.…”

Property enhancement of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/bagasse ash composites by tannic acid

“…Apparently, PBA could be considered a weak basic because its pH value was 7.4, probably due to the contamination from residual metal oxides. 12 The density, average particle size, and BET specific surface area of PBA were about 1.67 g/cm 3 , 1.43 μm, and 59.3 m 2 /g, respectively. Despite its large particle size (on the microscale), the relatively high specific surface area of PBA is due to the contamination of activated carbon in the PBA, as previously reported.…”

“…BA purification was carried out using the procedures described in our previous work. 12 In the purifying process, 50 g of BA was stirred in 350 mL of 1 M HCl solution at room temperature for 24 h to remove some metal oxides. After neutralizing with deionized water, filtering, and drying in an oven at 110 ο C, the acid-treated BA was then subjected to alkaline extraction by adding it to 100 mL of 1 M NH 4 F solution, stirring vigorously under reflux and condensation at 120 ο C for 3 h and, finally, filtering using vacuum filtration.…”

“…In another attempt, BA has been purified, namely PBA, by using acidolysis and alkaline extraction and used as a filler in NR. 12 After purification, PBA had hydroxyl groups on its surface, and its particle size was slightly reduced, resulting in an increase in specific surface area. When used in conjunction with a silane coupling agent (triethoxy silylpropyl tetrasulfide; TESPT), PBA could be used as a semi-reinforcing filler in NR.…”

Mapping the progress in natural fiber reinforced composites: Preparation, mechanical properties, and applications

“…As a result, fibers are frequently wasted, and their use as fillers in composite materials has been highly investigated as a viable option. [41,[112][113][114][115][116][117] F I G U R E 2 Images of some natural fibers. [118,119] 3.1 | Thermoplastic matrix Thermoplastic matrices are comprised of polymeric substances that are facile to form in a viscous phase by heating and solidify upon cooling.…”