Transport Studies of Peanut Shell Powder Reinforced Natural Rubber Composites in Chlorinated Solvents

Composites of Natural rubber (NR) Peanut shell powder (PSP) were prepared and their morphology, transport behavior at different temperatures in chlorinated solvent were studied. The PSP used in compounding the natural rubber was processed in two particle sizes. The effect of modification by alkali treatment of PSP on polymer properties was also investigated. The computed solvent properties were discussed in terms of PSP content, particle size, nature of solvent, and temperature. All the NR-PSP composites were found to decrease with the uptake of chlorinated solvents than NR, but the effect was more significant in the case of alkali treated PSP composites. Furthermore, the uptake of solvent decreased with increase in penetrant size; being the highest for dichloromethane, and the lowest for carbon tetrachloride. Activation energy was found to be maximum for highest in dichloromethane at the filler contents investigated. The thermodynamic parameters of the sorption process were also evaluated. The results showed that PSP filler acts as functional additives capable of manipulating and tailoring the transport of chlorinated solvents through elastomeric membranes even at concentrations as low as 10 parts per hundred (phr). The relationship between the transport behaviour and the morphology of the system was also examined.