Abstract

Mechanical properties of natural rubber filled with carbonized dikanut shell (Irvingia wombolu) and carbonized rubber seed shell (Hevea brasiliensis)

Author(s): O.G.Tenebe, I.C.Madufor, M.D.Ayo, N.Ojinmah

Samples of dikanut shell and rubber seed shell were carbonized at varying temperatures (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700 and 800oc) for three hours each and sieved through a 100µm screen. The portion of the dikanut shell and rubber seed shell carbon that was passed through the screen was characterized and used in compounding natural rubber. The mechanical properties of the DNSC-filled vulcanizates present better tensile strength, modulus at 100%, abrasion resistance, compression set and hardness as carbonization temperature increases while the RSSC-filled vulcanizates exhibits better elongation at break and flex fatigue resistance.