PHYSICOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GROUNDNUT SHELL FLOUR-FILLED MALEIC ACID ANHYDRIDE COMPATIBILIZED NATURAL RUBBER (NR)/LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE BLEND
A. O. OGAH *
Department of Industrial Chemistry, Ebonyi State University, P.M.B 053, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
F. K. ONWU
Department of Chemistry, Michael Okpara, University of Agriculture, Umudike, PMB 7267 Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
In this research, the physicomechanical properties of groundnut shell flour-filled maleic acid anhydride compatibilized natural rubber (NR)/low-density polyethylene (LDPE) blends was investigated. To these effect blends of natural rubber and low-density polyethylene was compounded with varying weight proportions mixed with dicumyl peroxide and maleic acid anhydride. The performance of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APE) in groundnut shell flour-filled NR/LDPE composites have been verified by evaluating the mechanical properties and mass swell of the blends. Generally, the inclusion of untreated groundnut shell flour into the blends increased the Young’s modulus and hardness, whereas the tensile strength, elongation at break, impact strength and mass swell decreased. The use of a silane coupling agent (i.e., 3-APE) resulted to composites with improved tensile strength, hardness and impact strength but with a sharp decrease in elongation and superior mass swell compared to the unmodified composite blends.
Keywords: Physicomechanical properties, coupling agent, groundnut shell flour, low- density polyethylene, compatibilized, natural rubber