The Effect of Particle Size of Palm Kernel Shell on the Mechanical Properties and Physical Properties of Filled Natural Rubber Vulcanizates

• Published in: Materials today : proceedings Vol. 19; pp. 1599 - 1607
• Main Authors: Abbas, Khaliesah, Muizz Mohamed Ghazali, Ahmad, Kooi Ong, Siew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 2019
• ISSN: 2214-7853; 2214-7853
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matpr.2019.11.188

The production of crude palm oil resulting in large amounts of by-product called oil palm wastes (OPW) which can be transformed to biochar via pyrolysis. Utilizing the Palm Kernel Shell based biochar had been studied by researches in thermoplastic area but limited studies in rubber area. In rubber application, the particle size plays an important role in governing the properties of the filled vulcanizate. Finer particle size is results in better reinforcement. In this study, the effect of PKS size on the biochar size and the filled vulcanizate were studies. PKS size of 300 μm, 250 μm and 100 μm were pyrolyzed at 500°C for six hours. The biochar obtained showed that the PKS of size 300 μm has finer median particle size; 40 mm but broader distribution as compare to the other two PKS sizes. The PKS of size 200 μm and 100 μm have the same median particle size; 50 μm and similar particle size distribution. The mean size for all the PKS sizes is however similar; i.e. 60 μm. Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) performed on these PKS sizes showed that the PKS of size 100 μm has the highest amount of residue: 14.96% followed by 250 μm and 300 μm which are 5.09% and 3.21%, respectively. The tensile properties and hardness show that there is no significant difference on the PKS size to these properties. However, the PKS size which is 100 μm contributes to the lowest value in tear strength. The result suggests that the high amount of ash contents contributed to highest tear strength among the rubber vulcanizates.