This work investigates the effects of addition of 63 µm uncarbonized particulate cow bone as fillers in vulcanized natural rubber on the tensile properties, hardness and abrasion resistance of the composites. Cow bones were procured from an abattoir, cleaned, crushed, pulverized, ball milled and sieved to obtain the particles that passed through the 63 µm mesh size. Natural rubber composites materials were prepared varying the filler loading as 5, 10, 15 and 20 pphr respectively. The compounded rubber samples were cured in a hot press using compression moulding technique. The control sample was produced using 20 pphr of carbon black. The cured rubber samples were conditioned at room temperature for two weeks before they were characterized. The tensile strength and elastic modulus of the samples filled with cow bone increased with filler loading up to 15 pphr before they started decreasing. Carbon black reinforced sample possessed higher tensile strength, modulus and hardness than the samples filled with uncarbonized particulate cow bone. The hardness for all samples maintained an increasing trend with increase in the filler loadings. Particulate cow bone reinforced natural rubber offered higher elongation than carbon black reinforced samples. At 10, 15 and 20 pphr, cow bone reinforced composites exhibited higher abrasion resistance than carbon black filled sample. The optimal filler loading of uncarbonized particulate cow bone reinforced natural rubber was 15 pphr. Cow bone reinforced natural rubber can find applications in areas where moderate strength, hardness, elongation and wear resistance are required such as in protective footwear, bouncing balls and cases of children toys.Keywords— carbon black, cow bone, fillers, natural rubber, composites.
Effect of surface treatment with potassium permanganate on ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber reinforced natural rubber composites
