The effect of kenaf fibre loading on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of waste tyre dust/kenaf fibre hybrid filler filled natural rubber compounds

Abstract

Waste tyre dust (WTD)/kenaf fibre (Ke) hybrid filler filled natural rubber (NR) compounds having constant 30 phr loading were prepared with increasing partial replacement of WTD by kenaf fibre at 0, 10, 15, 20, and 30 phr. Curing characteristics, mechanical properties, rubber-fibre interaction, and morphology of the NR compounds were studied after the compounds were obtained. The curing characteristics such as t 2 and t 90 increased with increment of kenaf fibre loading. For M HR, the increasing partial replacement of WTD by kenaf fibre showed increasing MM HR value. For tensile properties, the value of tensile strength and elongation at break value decreased with increasing kenaf fibre loading. The values of M100 and M300 increased but then decreased after the addition of 15 phr of kenaf fibre loading. Besides, fatigue life value also showed a decreasing trend with increasing kenaf fibre loading. For rubber-fibre interaction, the values of Q f/Q g showed a small increment with increasing kenaf fibre loading. The SEM micrographs obtained for fractured surface of WTD/kenaf fibre hybrid filled NR compounds supported the results for the mechanical properties.