Chemical Resistance of Coconut Shell-Filled Rubber Vulcanizates

Abstract

In this contribution, the uptake of water, methanol, acetone and toluene at ambient temperature by Coconut Shell-Filled Rubber Vulcanizates as a function of time were studied. The rubber vulcanizate with varying Coconut Shell filler (CSF) concentration of 10 to 50 pphr at 10 pphr interval was prepared using two roll mixing mill and compression moulding process. The effect of filler loading on the percentage uptake of different chemicals (water, methane, acetone and toluene) by rubber matrix vulcanizate were monitored. Results showed similar trends for water and methanol uptake by the vulcanizate such that, increasing CSF concentration in the vulcanizate and period of immersion from 24 to 72 hours resulted to slight increase from about 0.5 to 3 % in the amount of water and methanol uptake while reverse trends were exhibited for the period of immersion from 24 - 72 hours. However, the percentage water and methanol uptake by the filled vulcanizates is much lower compared to that of acetone and toluene at all CSF concentrations and periods of immersion. Hence the vulcanizate properties will be more stable water and methanol environments than that of toluene and acetone.