TITLE:
Comparative Study of Physical Properties of Polymer Composites Reinforced with Uncarbonised and Carbonised Coir
AUTHORS:
F. O. Aguele, C. I. Madufor, K. F. Adekunle
KEYWORDS:
Polymer, Composites, Reinforcing, Fillers, Coir and Vulcanisation
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Polymer Chemistry,
Vol.4 No.3,
August
20,
2014
ABSTRACT:
This study involved the use of uncarbonised
and carbonised coir in preparing composites of a given polymer. In this case
natural rubber (NR) was used. Uncarbonised coir (UC) and carbonised coir (CC)
were separately used to prepare the polymer composites. Carbon black (CB) was
also used differently and the filler loadings for all varied between 0 and 50 phr.
Before using the uncarbonised coir and carbonised coir, they were characterised
on the basis of moisture content, pH, particles size and surface area. The
properties of the various composite samples prepared were then investigated. The
results of the tests obtained for the NR-UC composites were compared with those
of NR-CC and also with those of NR-CB composites. It was observed that for
hardness, the results obtained from composites of UC and CC fillers showed
similar trends with those of carbon black (CB) reinforced composites,
increasing with increase in filler volume. For the tensile strength and modulus
a trend of slight rise was observed. There were no sharp rises in values as
filler volumes were increased. UC and CC fillers were observed to impart very
poorly on the tensile strength and modulus relative to the CB reinforced
composites. The results from test for elongation, compression set and flex
fatigue showed a falling trend for all the fillers to a comparable level with
CB. It was generally observed that the uncarbonised coir presented better
potentials for reinforcement than the carbonised coir.