A Study of the Influence of Zinc Oxide on Acid Resistance of Natural Rubber Composites

Abstract

Abstract The natural rubber has good resistance for some acids such as hydrochloric acid. Therefore, natural rubber composites are used in the lining of acid containers. Acid resistance of the natural rubber improves by types and levels of additives such as zinc oxide level. This research focuses on the influence of traditional zinc oxide on the acid resistance of natural rubber composites against 37% (w/w) hydrochloric acid. Six rubber compounds were prepared with various levels of zinc oxide of (0, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8) phr (parts per hundred parts of rubber weight). This work includes tests of tensile properties, hardness (Shore A), compression set, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance. Test specimens of tensile properties and hardness immersed in hydrochloric acid for 70 hours at room temperature. After immersion, they dried and tested for determining acid resistance. The acid resistance of rubber composites increased by increasing the amount of zinc oxide and the best acid resistance of rubber composite was gotten at 5 phr of zinc oxide.