Investigating the impact of nanoparticle geothermal silica loading on the mechanical properties and vulcanization characteristics of rubber composites

Muh. Wahyu Sya’bani, - and Rochmadi, - and Indra Perdanaa, - and Agus Prasetyaa, - (2023) Investigating the impact of nanoparticle geothermal silica loading on the mechanical properties and vulcanization characteristics of rubber composites. Communications in Science and Technology, 8 (1). pp. 75-81. ISSN -

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	Text Syabani et al_2023_Investigating the impact of nanoparticle geothermal silica loading on the.pdf Download (736kB)

Abstract

The present study investigates the effects of nanoparticle geothermal silica (NGS) on the mechanical properties and vulcanization characteristics of rubber compounds with various filler loadings. The rubber compounds were filled with 0, 20, 30, and 40 phr of silica. The properties of NGS were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy, particle size analyzer, and BET surface area analysis to examine its morphology, size distribution, and surface area. The mechanical properties and vulcanization characteristics of the rubber compounds reinforced with NGS were evaluated using a universal testing machine and moving die rheometer. The results showed that NGS possessed the primary particle sizes below 20 nm and a surface area of 168.35 m2/g. The interaction between silica and rubber determined the modulus of the rubber composites and the vulcanization characteristics. The tensile strength of the rubber compounds, meanwhile, showed a significant increase more than threefold as the filler loading increased from 0 phr to 30 phr, followed by a slight decline at 40 phr loading. The addition of 20 phr of silica led to a prolonged scorch time compared to the filler-free compound due to the adsorption of activators and accelerators. However, the scorch time decreased after reaching 30 phr of silica loading, which could be attributed to the higher amount of bound rubber covering a portion of the silica surface, thereby reducing its ability to adsorb the activator. The presence of silica with good thermal conductivity enabled a better heat transfer during the vulcanization process, resulting in shorter curing times for higher loading. Rubber compounds with an NGS loading of 30 phr demonstrated a favorable balance between filler-rubber interactions, vulcanization characteristics, and mechanical properties in the rubber compounds. Keywords: Geothermal waste; rubber; silica nanoparticle; vulcanization; mechanical properties 1. Introduction Utilizing water vapor from geothermal sources offers a sustainable and renewable energy source [1]. However, there is a challenge for geothermal power plants, silica scaling in pipelines leads to a decline in operational efficiency [2,3]. Commonly, the methods to address this issue generate significant silica sludge, typically disposed of in landfills [4]. The silica content in the sludge is notably high, ranging from 50% to 98% [1,3,5]. Hence, geothermal solid waste shows potential as a viable source of silica raw materials. Silica, which is composed of silicon dioxide (SiO2), is a versatile functional

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