Abstract:
Composites combined two different components: the matrix phase (polymer) and the
reinforcing phase (filler). In the rubber composites industry, plant fibres from
agricultural crops have appeared as alternative fillers. Agricultural crops such as cotton
stalks are renewable and cheap materials that provide engineering products with
comparable properties after the combination with rubber.
The study aim to prepare the biocomposites of cellulose and NBR through the melt
blending process and study their microstructure properties. For this purpose, cellulose
was extracted from waste cotton stalks using alkaline hydrogen peroxide treatment.
After extraction of cellulose, it was melt blended with NBR under specific temperature
(80 °C), revolution (60 rpm), and time (12 minutes) conditions. Cellulose fiber and raw
cotton stalk powder were loaded from 0 to 10 wt % to make composites,which were
examined.The effect of carbon black composite with NBR was also studied.
Chemical analysis (FTIR, and XRD) of cellulose was done for the identification of filler.
For microstructure analysis of cellulose, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
technique is used.characteristization of the composites were performed by MDR-3000
to study their vulcanization behaviour.
FTIR results showed successful removal of lignin and hemicellulose at 1733 cm-1
and
1237 cm-1
. XRD analysis showed the increment in peak intensity at 22.5° referred to the
removing the non-crystalline region (lignin and hemicellulose).SEM micrographs
showed the removal of the cementing hemicellulose, wax and lignin.The channeling at
the upper surface of the cellulose fiber is attributed to the removal of inorganic particales
i.e. silica and metal components.The characteristic behaviour with different formualtions
was analyzed. The values of maximum torque (Tmax), minimum torque (Tmin), torque
at 90 % curing (T90) and the optimum time for cure(t90) was studied .
