Effect of Bio-carbon Loading on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties

of Filled Rubber Vulcanizate

M.H. Muhammad Hadi, 1R.T. Bachmann, 1M. Y. Ahmad Marzio, 1M. Zulkifli, 1F.A. Md Yusof, 2M. Singh, 1S.K. Ong

Universiti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Institute of Chemical and Bioengineering Technology, Lot 1988, Taboh Naning, 78000 Alor Gajah, Malaysia
2
Colloid and Interface Science Centre, Centre of Excellence Division, Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, Malaysian Rubber Board, 47000 Sg. Buloh, Malaysia
1

Abstract

Depleted fossil fuel has made studies on biomass based carbon black, called bio-carbon carried out by researchers. One of the factor that impact the
bio-carbon effectiveness in reinforcing ability with the rubber compound is the individual particle size of bio-carbon. Theoretically, for a given mass of
bio-carbon, as the individual particle size get smaller, the total surface area get bigger thus increasing the contact point between the bio-carbon
surface with the rubber compound, make it an ideal filler for reinforcement in rubber based product especially tyres. This paper has review several
studies that concludes the findings of various sizes of bio-carbon and the effect of its loading impact towards filled rubber vulcanizate based on the
results on mechanical and thermal analysis. For mechanical properties, a set of data consists of results for tensile strength, elongation at break,
modulus at 100% elongation and modulus at 300% elongation are shown in the form of graph to expose the trend based on particle size of biocarbon. Results for dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry analysis (DSC) are
also included to see the impact of bio-carbon particle size and its loading on the performance of filled rubber vulcanizate during real application of
rubber products. Focusing on the impact of bio-carbon particle size on the filled rubber vulcanizate will aid in extensive studies afterwards to produce
submicron level bio-carbon, aiming to be on better or comparableMechanical
with current fossil
fuel based carbon black in reinforcing performance.
Analysis
Keywords: Rubber, Filler, Bio-carbon, Thermal Analysis, Mechanical Properties

Figure 1: TS of various filled vulcanizate

Figure 2: EB of various filled vulcanizate
Figure 3:
M100 strength
& M300 (TS)
of various
filled
vulcanizate
Tensile
as shown
in Figure
1, elongation at break (EB) in Figure 2 and modulus at 100% (M100) and 300% (M300) elongation in Figure
3 of a rubber compound; SBR[6][7][8], NR[1][5], NBR[9] and EPDM[4] are increasing as the bio-carbon particle size decrease regardless of filler being used as
total or partial filler. The results of TS, EB, M100 and M300 are also influenced by type of rubber e.g., TS of NR filled vulcanizate is higher than EPDM
vulcanizate despite the bio-carbon filler for both rubber compound having similar particle size and loading at 75 m and 10 phr respectively. Generally,
as the filler particle size decreases, the filler total surface area will increases thus rubber compound have more surface available to have interfacial
interaction with the filler surface[9]; i.e. smaller particle size, higher reinforcement. The results from Figure 1 and Figure 2 are in agreement with the
reinforcement theory. Some of the study used bio-carbon as partial replacement of primary filler i.e., combination of bio-carbon filler with CB filler
(hybrid). From the findings, the use of hybrid fillers will have better properties of rubber compound compared to total replacement of filler with biocarbon. This is because hybrid fillers have much smaller average particle
size Analysis
due to existence of nano-sized CB. This phenomenon encourage further
Thermal
studies to have smaller particle size of bio-carbon, similar or better than CB in order to have superior reinforcing ability for rubber vulcanizate.

Figure 5: Tan of carbon

Figure 4: Elastic modulus of
Figure 6: Effect of particle
Figure 7: Effect of particle
carbon black, Bio-carbon and the black, Bio-carbon and the
size on weight loss
size on Tm & Tg
hybrid fillers
hybrid
fillers
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) in Figure 4 and Figure 5 are the results of filled SBR vulcanizate using carbon black (100nm), bio-carbon (0.74m)
and hybrid of both. The results have shown that decreasing particle size of fillers results in higher elastic modulus, lower Tan and higher Tg[6]. This
evidences that particle size of filler give major impact on overall reinforcing ability; better elastic performance due to lower Tan and broader rubber
product application at various temperature. In Figure 6, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) gives an overview on thermal stability of a NR compound [3]
[10]
, the one with smaller particle size of bio-carbon has better performance than the other where temperature at 5%, 10% and 50% weight loss (T -5%, T-10%
and T-50%) of 17.88 m bio-carbon filled NR has lower values compared to 40 m bio-carbon filled NR. The moisture and organic functional groups
increased as the particle size decreased thus indicate more hydrophilic characteristics, which might affect the interfacial interaction between bio-carbon
and NR vulcanizate[9]. Figure 7 yield results of decreasing melting temperature (Tm) of rubber compound as the filler i.e., 40 m bio-carbon[10] and 0.02
m / 0.01 m CB[11] particle size decrease. However, not much changes happen on value of Tg and it may due to difference between the type of rubber;
[10]
[3]
rubber
vulcanizate
and
rubber
blend
.
Differential
scanning
calorimetry
(DSC)
analysis
measurements
indicate
that
the
Tg
of
the
rubber
part
remains
Conclusion
basically unchanged but the Tm increase on increasing filler size [11].
The results from mechanical and thermal analysis are giving an overview on physical characteristics and behaviour of a rubber compound, in this case,
highly influenced by particle size of bio-carbon that act as reinforcing filler. The importance of thermal analysis that yield results based on DMA, TGA and
DSC analysis is it gives information on failure analysis of a rubber product, under a condition with surrounding temperature and force that keeps
changing.
References
1. Z. X. Ooi, H. Ismail and A. Abu Bakar (2013) Synergistic effect of oil palm ash filled natural rubber compound at low filler loading
2. Z. X. Ooi, H. Ismail and A. Abu Bakar (2013) Optimisation of oil palm ash as reinforcement in natural rubber vulcanisation: A comparison between silica
and carbon black fillers
3. Z. X. Ooi, H. Ismail and A. Abu Bakar (2013) The Effect of Hydrochloric Acid Treatment on Properties of Oil Palm Ash-filled Natural Rubber Composites
4. H. Ismail and S. M. Shaari (2010) Curing characteristics, tensile properties and morphology of palm ash/halloysite nanotubes/ethylene-propylene-diene
monomer (EPDM) hybrid composite
5. H. Ismail and F. S. Haw (2008) Effects of Palm Ash Loading and Maleated Natural Rubber as a Coupling Agent on the Properties of PalmAshFilled
Natural Rubber Composites
6. S. C. Peterson (2012) Utilization of low-ash biochar to partially replace carbon black in styrenebutadiene rubber composites
7. S. C. Peterson (2015) Birchwood biochar as partial carbon black replacement in styrenebutadiene rubber composites
8. S. C. Peterson (2011) Evaluating corn starch and corn stover biochar as renewable filler in carboxylated styrenebutadiene rubber composites