Potential of Carbonized Cherry Seed Shell as Filler in Natural Rubber Vulcanizates

摘要

This study investigated the cure characteristics, physico-mechanical and equilibrium swelling properties of natural rubber (NR) filled with cherry seed shell (CSS) and cherry seed shell carbon (CSSC) in comparison with commercial carbon black, CB{N330) filler. The NR compounds filled with CSS and CSSC experienced slight increase in scorch and cure times with increasing filler loading (cure retardation). CB(N330)-filled NR experienced slight cure enhancement. The tensile strength and abrasion resistance of the NR vulcanizates increased to optimum values of 14.13 Mpa and 43.8% at 40 and 50 phr respectively and then decreased thereafter with increasing filler content. The reinforcement potential follows the order; CB(N330) CSSC>CSS. The modulus (M100) increased from 1.13 Mpa at 0 phr filler loading to 2.39 Mpa, 2.98 MPa and 3.98 Mpa at 60 pnr filler loading for CSS, CSSC and CB(N330)-filled vulcanizates respectively. Also, the specific gravity (S. G), hardness and thermal conductivity of the vulcanizates increased while elongation at break, resilience and equilibrium swelling (S_(eq)) decreased with increasing filler content.