The Taste of Waste: The Edge of Eggshell Over Calcium Carbonate in Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber

Eshwaran Subramani Bhagavatheswaran,Hadi Rastin,Seyed Hassan Jafari,Mohammad Reza Saeb,Hoda Saeidi,Amit Das,Henri Vahabi,Krzysztof Formela,Farhood Najafi,Payam Zarrintaj,Maryam Jouyandeh,Hossein Ali Khonakdar

doi:10.1007/s10924-019-01530-y

Abstract

Rubber technology experiences a new age by the use of biowaste or natural fillers. In this regard, taking properties of reinforcing agents from biowaste fillers remains as the challenging matter. Chicken eggshell (ES) biowaste has recently been introduced to substitute calcium carbonate (CaCO3) duo to its superior properties and low price. In this work, composites based on acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) reinforced with ES and CaCO3 microfillers at various loading levels were prepared and characterized. To improve the interactions between fillers and the NBR matrix, ES and CaCO3 were surface-functionalized using a terpolymer, namely poly(vinyl 2-pyrrolidone-co-maleic acid-co-acrylic acid). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the modified fillers. The incorporation of the functionalized fillers resulted in a significant rise in the maximum torque according to the rheometric measurements. The Young’s modulus of the ES-based and CaCO3-based compounds showed a mild improvement over a wide range of filler contents. The elongation at break of the NBR composites, however, was dependent on the filler content. This work provides exciting opportunities for the design of novel and innovative coupling agents to be used in rubber applications.

Highlights

Nowadays, disposal of polymer wastes in landfills is a serious challenge in the developing countries, for disposed polymer wastes are permanent contaminants to the local environment including soil and water
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra of the untreated and functionalized particles were measured in order to confirm the success of the surface treatment procedure (Fig. 5)
Biowaste eggshell and calcium carbonate powders were applied as fillers in preparation of NBR composites

Summary

Introduction

Disposal of polymer wastes in landfills is a serious challenge in the developing countries, for disposed polymer wastes are permanent contaminants to the local environment including soil and water. Kumar et al [33] used isophthalic acid in surface functionalization of ES and reported 3–18% improvement in tensile modulus of the PP composite compared to the one containing pristine ES or mineral-based CaCO3. In a previous work, curing characteristics and mechanical properties of NBR, NR, and SBR composites filled with ES powder were discussed [35].

Results

Conclusion