Silica and modified silica fume waste (mSF) as reinforcing fillers for rubber industry

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficiency of commercial silica, silica fume-waste (SF) and modified silica fume-waste (mSF) as reinforcing filler in acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) through the mixing process of rubber. The composites were prepared using different loadings of silica fume and commercial silica in EPDM and NBR composites. Structural characterization of silica and SF was done using X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The surface of silica fume waste was modified using poly methyl methacrylate/butyl acrylate through emulsion polymerization to increase the interaction between silica and rubber, then consequently better dispersion in rubber matrix was obtained. The mSF waste was characterized using FT-IR spectra and transmission electron microscopy. Design/methodology/approach The investigated rubber mixes and vulcanizates were evaluated by measuring the curing characteristics, mechanical testing, thermogravimetric analysis and morphological studies (SEM). The mechanical properties of composites including tensile strength, elongation at break and modulus were estimated and analyzed. Findings The results revealed that the composites (NBR and EPDM) containing mSF as filler exhibited better rheological and mechanical properties compared to unmodified silica waste and commercial silica. The SEM analysis indicated that the mSF was homogeneously dispersed through the surface of NBR and EPDM composites. Also, results showed that (NBR and EPDM) composites exhibited remarkable improvements in tensile strength, elongation at break and hardness in the presence of mSF; they also showed an increase in the thermal stability. This means that the treatment of surface SF can improve its dispersion in rubber. Research limitations/implications Silica cannot be applied in rubber matrix without surface modification because of their incompatibility; their dispersion is not good without surface modification. Practical implications The modified silica surface is considered as effective reinforcing filler which can replace other fillers because of its lower surface energy and enhanced intercalating behavior in rubber. Social implications This study is just a start in establishing rubber projects with wide applications in the industry and providing a cheap local product while preserving the quality and that is the use of factory waste, which helps in protecting the environment from pollution. Originality/value mSF is cheap with relatively high purity, which make rubber/mSF composites appear as new grade of material that can be used in different media rather than rubber.

Investigation of the structure, magnetic, rheological and mechanical properties of EPDM rubber/Cu-Al-Zn alloy composites

“…This means that, in presence of coupling agent TMSPM, caused an improvement in interfacial adhesion makes Cu-Al-Zn alloy and EPDM less repulsive toward each other and hence, results in better dispersion of Cu-Al-Zn alloy particle within in EPDM domains. This result confirms with SEM morphology where the Cu-Al-Zn alloy in presence TMSPM, is the best dispersed in EPDM matrix and also confirms from the increase in value of elongation at break [18]. ________________________________________________ Egypt.…”

“…At higher loadings of Cu-Al-Zn alloy in presence coupling agent; higher investigated alloy networking and more compounded viscosities of rubber can be observed due to the presence of more adsorbed polymer. This adsorbed polymer can be inactive, besides agglomeration of Cu-based alloy that leads to restricted rubber movement, which causes loss of its identity and make it behave as filler in terms of stress-strain properties [18]. The attachment of rubber chains on the alloy surface may serve as extra cross-links, leading to the increase of the modulus.…”

Enhanced physicomechanical performance of nitrile rubber composites by utilizing eco‐friendly natural oil as a plasticizer

“…This result was confirmed with the SEM morphology test representing the best oil dispersion into the NBR matrix and confirmed the increased elongation value at the break. [ 11 ]…”

Exploration on Ability of Printable modified papers for the application in heat sublimation transfer printing of polyester fabric

“…it can still have part in the reaction being not completely shielded. The structured core-shell pigment used in this work are composed of titanium dioxide shell precipitated on rice husk silica ash core 7,12,13 .…”