Development of Brown Paper Pulp Filled Natural Rubber Composites for Structural Applications.

To improve the flexural properties of materials for structural applications, composite materials from paper pulp can be bonded with natural rubber. Paper pulp exhibits some bonding potentials which can further be enhanced for some tailored applications by mixing it with another bonding agent. This study describes the influence of natural rubber on the flexural and water absorption properties of paper-pulp-filled natural rubber composites for structural applications. This research was done using pulverised brown paper pulp as the filler and natural rubber was used as the bonding agent. A measured volume of natural rubber was mixed with a known quantity of paper pulp and the mixture was poured into a detachable mould and compacted for about 10 minutes to produce the composite. The developed composites were detached from the mould and allowed to cure in air at room temperature for 27 days. Flexural and water absorption tests were done on the samples. The composite developed from the mixture of 70 wt % brown paper pulp and 30 wt % natural rubber gave the best result for flexural properties, while the sample with 60-40 wt % emerged the best composition for the water absorption property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]