• 2020-06-10
• Malomo D, Olasupo A.D, Adesigbin A.M, Egharevba, F., Adewuyi S.O, Odunbunmi J.O, Idemmudia L.
• Volume 2, Issue 1

Abstract

This research work examined how Carbonized Palm Kernel shell (CPKS) filler affects the mechanical properties of natural rubber vulcanizates. The characterization of the filler was determined before applying it on the NR vulcanizates. The filler loading concentrations of CB/CPKS used were labeled as mixes A to F with the composition of 20:0, 20:5, 15:10, 10:15, 5:20, and 0:20. The result obtained on characterization of the filler were bulk density (0.63g/ml), pH (5.7), % of carbon (51.39%), % of nitrogen (1.09%), moisture content (6.33%), ash content (7.50%) and particle size (5,6,10 and 16) respectively. The results show significant values for all; the moisture and ash content were within the recommended standard of ASTM (3-10) and (< or =8) respectively. The physico mechanical results obtained on analysis of the vulcanizates produced showed that hardness and young modulus for majority of the blends increase with higher CPKS composition, while ultimate tensile strength decreases with CPKS composition across the filler loading and abrasion resistance were excellent for CB/CPKS compositions. The absolute CPKS loading had the lowest fatique life as the CPKS filler does not deform during the straining of the composites. The value of elongation at break for CB filled vulcanizates were found to be slightly better than CPKS arising from likely partial removal of lignin and hemicellulose of the natural filler through carbonization at 600°C. This may have induced low resistance to stretching during tensile deformation and improved the elongation at break of the composites. This research showed that CPKS has excellent filler potential as indicated by physico mechanical properties of the vulcanizates.

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