Affiliation:
1. Department of Polymer Science, Faculty of Applied Sciences University of Sri Jayewardenepura Nugegoda Sri Lanka
2. Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering University of Moratuwa Moratuwa Sri Lanka
Abstract
AbstractThis study focuses on reusing the waste fishing nets with natural rubber (NR) to create a value‐added composite material. WNF fibers at different loadings (2, 4, and 6 phr) and lengths (2, 3, 5, and 7 mm) were investigated for a general tire formulation. The anisotropic nature of WNF was evident in tear strength, with optimal results for 2 mm, 2 phr fiber loading. It displayed 15.87% improvement longitudinally compared with the control. Further, it displayed improved 5.55% hardness, whereas resilience, abrasion volume loss, and tensile strength were decreased. In the second stage, these fibers treated with KOH (2%, 6%, and 10%) with the expectation of enhancing the mechanical properties. The 2% KOH‐treated sample presented a significant escalation in hardness (+12.50%), resilience (+6.25%), abrasion volume loss (+3.63%), tear strength (+17.23%), and tensile strength (+8.20%) as of the control. Partial replacement of carbon black (CB) with 2% KOH treated 2 mm 2 phr WNF was evaluated. A 9% of CB in rubber compound was easily supersede by WNF. Our findings indicated that WNF fibers could be reuse as a filler in rubber composite where special property enhancements are advantageous in tire technology.