Rheological properties and curing features of polymer materials filled with biowasteRheologische Eigenschaften und Hartungseigenschaften von mit Bioabfallen gefullten Polymerwerkstoffen

Besides mechanical properties, the dynamic mechanical properties in a sensible range of temperature and rheological properties have to be taken into account for engineering applications. The rising concern towards the reduction in the use of petroleum-based non-renewable resources has led to increasing interests in natural polymer composites filled with natural organic fillers, i. e. they are from renewable and biodegradable sources. This work is focused on the use of biowaste, specifically wood flour as a plasticizer replacement in a rubber compound. Plasticizers (also called softener, extender or process oils) are common additives for polymers with a low molecular weight. An increasing content of a plasticizer usually leads to a decrease in the viscosity of the rubber mixture, and therefore, its processability can be improved. Based on the given fact, the experiment is aimed at the studies of the rheological properties. The scanning electron microscopy results can confirm the compatibility or incompatibility of the biowaste, specifically wood flour with rubber matrix. In the case of a successful replacement for plasticizer with wood flour, we expect a significant reduction in the cost of the mixtures production as well as a reduction in the environmental impact, compared with the petroleum products.

Automated summary

This study focuses on investigating the rheological properties of rubber compounds by using biowaste wood flour as a replacement for plasticizers. The compatibility of wood flour with the rubber matrix will be confirmed through scanning electron microscopy. If successful, the substitution of plasticizers with wood flour is expected to significantly reduce production costs and environmental impact.