Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties
Natural rubber (NR) composites filled with silica are typically used for tire tread applications owing to their low energy consumption and low rolling resistance. Tire tread properties vary broadly depending on the compound formulation and curing conditions. Silica loading is recognized as a critica...
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Composites Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/6/12/369 |
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| author | Nicha Choophun Nattapat Chaiammart Kantavee Sukthavon Chatchai Veranitisagul Apirat Laobuthee Anyarat Watthanaphanit Gasidit Panomsuwan |
| author_facet | Nicha Choophun Nattapat Chaiammart Kantavee Sukthavon Chatchai Veranitisagul Apirat Laobuthee Anyarat Watthanaphanit Gasidit Panomsuwan |
| author_sort | Nicha Choophun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Natural rubber (NR) composites filled with silica are typically used for tire tread applications owing to their low energy consumption and low rolling resistance. Tire tread properties vary broadly depending on the compound formulation and curing conditions. Silica loading is recognized as a critical factor influencing the mechanical properties of the composites. In this work, we aim to investigate the effect of silica loading (10–50 phr) on the mechanical properties of NR composites. Silica was prepared from rice husk waste via chemical treatment and subsequent calcination at 600 °C. Prior to the compound mixing process, silica was modified by a silane coupling agent to improve compatibility with the NR matrix. The NR compounds reinforced with silane-modified silica from rice husk were prepared using a two-roll mill machine. The scorch and cure times increased as the silica loading increased. The mechanical properties of the NR composites, including tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, hardness, and abrasion loss, were examined as a function of silica loading. Tensile strength increased and reached the maximum value at 20 phr but decreased at high loading owing to the agglomeration of silica in the NR matrix. With increasing silica loading, hardness and modulus increased, whereas elongation at break and abrasion resistance decreased slightly. These results indicate that NR composites filled with silica are stiffer and harder at a higher silica loading due to the strong interaction between silica and the NR matrix, inhibiting the segmental mobility of rubber chains. We anticipate that the compound formulation presented in this work could potentially be adapted to tire tread applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:16:07Z |
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| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:16:07Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
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| series | Journal of Composites Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9bf60747b0e4de2b48b27faccd6179a2023-11-24T15:47:51ZengMDPI AGJournal of Composites Science2504-477X2022-12-0161236910.3390/jcs6120369Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical PropertiesNicha Choophun0Nattapat Chaiammart1Kantavee Sukthavon2Chatchai Veranitisagul3Apirat Laobuthee4Anyarat Watthanaphanit5Gasidit Panomsuwan6Department of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDepartment of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDepartment of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDepartment of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Khlong Hok 12110, ThailandDepartment of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, ThailandDepartment of Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, ThailandNatural rubber (NR) composites filled with silica are typically used for tire tread applications owing to their low energy consumption and low rolling resistance. Tire tread properties vary broadly depending on the compound formulation and curing conditions. Silica loading is recognized as a critical factor influencing the mechanical properties of the composites. In this work, we aim to investigate the effect of silica loading (10–50 phr) on the mechanical properties of NR composites. Silica was prepared from rice husk waste via chemical treatment and subsequent calcination at 600 °C. Prior to the compound mixing process, silica was modified by a silane coupling agent to improve compatibility with the NR matrix. The NR compounds reinforced with silane-modified silica from rice husk were prepared using a two-roll mill machine. The scorch and cure times increased as the silica loading increased. The mechanical properties of the NR composites, including tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus, hardness, and abrasion loss, were examined as a function of silica loading. Tensile strength increased and reached the maximum value at 20 phr but decreased at high loading owing to the agglomeration of silica in the NR matrix. With increasing silica loading, hardness and modulus increased, whereas elongation at break and abrasion resistance decreased slightly. These results indicate that NR composites filled with silica are stiffer and harder at a higher silica loading due to the strong interaction between silica and the NR matrix, inhibiting the segmental mobility of rubber chains. We anticipate that the compound formulation presented in this work could potentially be adapted to tire tread applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/6/12/369natural rubberrice husksilicacompositescompoundsmechanical properties |
| spellingShingle | Nicha Choophun Nattapat Chaiammart Kantavee Sukthavon Chatchai Veranitisagul Apirat Laobuthee Anyarat Watthanaphanit Gasidit Panomsuwan Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties Journal of Composites Science natural rubber rice husk silica composites compounds mechanical properties |
| title | Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties |
| title_full | Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties |
| title_fullStr | Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties |
| title_short | Natural Rubber Composites Reinforced with Green Silica from Rice Husk: Effect of Filler Loading on Mechanical Properties |
| title_sort | natural rubber composites reinforced with green silica from rice husk effect of filler loading on mechanical properties |
| topic | natural rubber rice husk silica composites compounds mechanical properties |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2504-477X/6/12/369 |
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