Studies on Effect of a Silane Coupling Agent (TESPT) on the Properties of Fly Ash-Natural Rubber Composite

By : Arti Maan, Utpal Kumar Niyogi, Anil Kumar Singh, Dayal Singh Mehra, Sunita Rattan

Page No: 45-55

Abstract
In this work, the effects of incorporation of untreated and silane treated fly ash on the mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of natural rubber composites were studied. Fly ash was treated with a silane coupling agent, bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfide (TESPT) to enhance the filler-rubber interaction for property improvement. Experimental results reveal that the relevant mechanical properties showed improvement by using upto 4% TESPT concentration and thereafter decreased or leveled off at higher concentrations of TESPT. Thermal properties showed slight improvement in stability of the composites with increase in TESPT concentration. SEM micrographs show enhanced rubber-filler interaction in silane treated fly ash rubber composites to produce more continuous and interlocked structure than untreated fly ash rubber composite. Incorporation of such a high concentration of fly ash in rubber composites has the potential of bulk utilization of fly ash thereby lowering the environmental pollution .

Authors :
Arti Maan, Utpal Kumar Niyogi and Anil Kumar Singh : Shriram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi-110007
Dayal Singh Mehra : Thai Acrylic Fibre Co., Ltd., Saraburi, Thailand-18110
Sunita Rattan : Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh-201303