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Torrefied agro‐industrial residue as filler in natural rubber compounds
Author(s) -
Torres Lennard F.,
McCaffrey Zach,
Washington Wisdom,
Williams Tina G.,
Wood Delilah F.,
Orts William J.,
McMahan Colleen M.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.50684
Subject(s) - natural rubber , carbon black , filler (materials) , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , elastomer , curing (chemistry) , biomass (ecology) , carbon fibers , elongation , vulcanization , composite number , oceanography , geology
This study explored the feasibility of using torrefied biomass as a reinforcing filler in natural rubber compounds. Carbon black was then replaced with the torrefied biomass in elastomer formulations for concentrations varying from 0% to 100% (60 parts per hundred rubber or phr total). Their influence on the curing process, dynamic properties, and mechanical properties was investigated. Results were compared with the properties of vulcanizates containing solely carbon black fillers. Time to cure ( t 90 ) for compounds with torrefied biomass fillers increased, while filler‐filler interactions (ΔG') decreased, compared to carbon black controls. At low strains, the tan δ values of the torrefied fillers vulcanizates were similar to the controls. Incorporation of torrefied biomass into natural rubber decreased compound tensile strength and modulus but increased elongation. Replacement with torrefied fillers resulted in a weaker filler network in the matrix. Still, results showed that moderate substitution concentrations (~20 phr) could be feasible for some natural rubber applications.