A comparison of white rice husk ash and silica as fillers in ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer vulcanizates

摘要

White rice husk ash (WRHA) and silica filled ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer (EPDM) vulcanizates were prepared using a laboratory size two-roll mill. Curing characteristics and physical properties of vulcanizates were studied with respect to the filler loading and filler type. Filler loading was varied from 0-50 parts per hundred resin (phr) at 10 phr intervals. Curing was carried out using a semi-efficient vulcanization system in a Monsanto rheometer. Enhancement of the curing rate was observed with increasing WRHA loading, whereas the opposite trend was observed for silica-filled vulcanizates. It was also indicated by the maximum torque and Mooney viscosity results that WRHA offers processing advantages over silica. Compared to the silica-filled vulcanizates, the effect of filler loading on the physical properties of WRHA- filled vulcanizates was not significant. According to these observations, WRHA could be used as a diluent filler for EPDM rubber, while silica can be used as a reinforcing filler.