Epoxidised Natural Rubber Filled Spent Coffee Ground Green Biocomposites

This study investigates the influence of spent coffee (SC), and potassium hydroxide (KOH) modified spent coffee (ACT-SC) as fillers on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) biocomposites. The results show the tensile strength, 100% modulus, elongation at break of the ACT-SC rubber biocomposites were enhanced, which was further confirmed by changes in the diffraction pattern for filler filled composite. The SEM micrograph indicates the biocomposite was substantially more homogenous with modified spent coffee. However, FTIR analysis revealed no significant differences between the modified and unmodified samples. In addition, the thermal analysis results show the thermal stability of ENR-ACT-SC is higher than that of ENR-SC but lower than that of ENR.

Automated summary

This study investigates the influence of spent coffee and potassium hydroxide modified spent coffee as fillers on the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxidized natural rubber biocomposites. The results showed enhancement in mechanical properties with modified spent coffee, as well as improved homogeneity, while no significant differences were observed in FTIR analysis. Thermal analysis indicated higher stability for the modified samples compared to unmodified ones.