Mechanical Properties and Equilibrium Swelling Characteristics of Some Polymer Composites Based on Ethylene Propylene Diene Terpolymer (EPDM) Reinforced with Hemp Fibers
Authors:
- Maria Daniela StelescuMaria Daniela Stelescu
- Anton AirineiAAAnton Airinei
- Alexandra BarganAlexandra Bargan
- Nicusor FifereNFNicusor Fifere
- Mihai GeorgescuMGMihai Georgescu
- Maria SonmezMSMaria Sonmez
- Mihaela NituicaMNMihaela Nituica
- Laurentia AlexandrescuLALaurentia Alexandrescu
- Adriana StefanASAdriana Stefan
Open Access
Abstract
EPDM/hemp fiber composites with fiber loading of 0–20 phr were prepared by the blending technique on a laboratory electrically heated roller mill. Test specimens were obtained by vulcanization using a laboratory hydraulic press. The elastomer crosslinking and the chemical modification of the hemp fiber surface were achieved by a radical reaction mechanism initiated by di(tert-butylperoxyisopropyl)benzene. The influence of the fiber loading on the mechanical properties, gel fraction, swelling ratio and crosslink degree was investigated. The gel fraction, crosslink density and rubber–hemp fiber interaction were evaluated based on equilibrium solvent-swelling measurements using the Flory–Rehner relation and Kraus and Lorenz–Park equations. The morphology of the EPDM/hemp fiber composites was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The water absorption increases as the hemp fiber loading increases.Keywords
Funding Information
- Romanian Ministry of Education and Research (4R-RCO-MAT PN 19.17.01.03, 4N/2019, PNCDI III C1.2. PFE-CDI 2021, 4PFE/2021)
This publication has 62 references indexed in Scilit:
- Green composites: A review of adequate materials for automotive applicationsComposites Part B: Engineering, 2013
- Evaluation of the polymer–solvent interaction parameter χ for the system cured polybutadiene rubber and toluenePolymer Testing, 2010
- Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester compositesComposites Science and Technology, 2007
- Biodegradable polymers and their layered silicate nanocomposites: In greening the 21st century materials worldProgress in Materials Science, 2005
- Reporting physisorption data for gas/solid systems with special reference to the determination of surface area and porosity (Recommendations 1984)Pure and Applied Chemistry, 1985
- Estimation, from Swelling, of the Structural Contribution of Chemical Reactions to the Vulcanization of Natural Rubber. Part II. Estimation of Equilibrium Degree of SwellingRubber Chemistry and Technology, 1964
- Estimation, from Swelling, of the Structural Contribution of Chemical Reactions to the Vulcanization of Natural Rubber. Part I. General MethodRubber Chemistry and Technology, 1964
- Crosslinking efficiency in the reaction of dicumyl peroxide with dimethyloctadieneJournal of Polymer Science, 1961
- Degree of Cure in Filler-Reinforced Vulcanizates by the Swelling MethodRubber Chemistry and Technology, 1957
- On a Theory of the van der Waals Adsorption of GasesJournal of the American Chemical Society, 1940