Effects of replacing Carbon Black with Wood Fibers in wood-rubber composites

The objective of this research was to develop a more sustainable composite and still keep its characteristics. Fibers treated with NaOH at 5% w/w for 2 hours were incorporated into natural rubber in different proportions (0 phr, 24 phr, 36 phr, 48 phr and 60 phr). The mechanical properties of the composites suffered changes, increasing the hardness, young's modulus and decreasing its tensile strength. All the physical properties were not statistically different. The coloration became less dark in the WF60/CB0 treatment, and the electrical properties presented better resistivity with the increase in the concentration of fibers in the composite. This presents a possibility of using WF for the production of wood-rubber composites for the production of rubber artifacts which do not require high rolling resistance. Based on the results from this research, we recommended the WF24/CB36 mix to produce antistatic floors.

Automated summary

The objective of this research was to develop a more sustainable composite with the incorporation of fibers treated with NaOH into natural rubber. The mechanical properties of the composites changed, with increased hardness and young's modulus, and decreased tensile strength. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the physical properties. The electrical properties improved with higher fiber concentrations, suggesting a potential use of the wood-rubber composites for rubber artifacts with low rolling resistance. Based on the results, the WF24/CB36 mix was recommended for producing antistatic floors.