Synergistic Effect of Natural Rubber Reinforced Hybrid Nanofillers – Chicken Feather Fibres and Kaolin Clay

Abstract

Property enhancements brought about by single fillers is limited to their individual intrinsic properties. The drawback of one filler is augmented by the strengths of the other filler in hybridization. Improvement in reinforcing potentials of feather and kaolin as hybridized particulate fillers in natural rubber matrix has not been reported in literature. The aim of this study was thus to develop and characterize a natural rubber hybrid biocomposite from poultry feather fibres and kaolin. The poultry feather fibres were stripped off their quills, washed, dried and treated with sodium hydroxide and nanosized while kaolin was beneficiated and also nanosized. The size distributions were analyzed via Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) Technique. Natural rubber hybrid composites reinforced with feathers and kaolin were compounded and vulcanized using a two roll mill. The composite samples were thereafter characterized for tensile strength, elongation at break and modulus at 300 % elongation (M300), hardness, abrasion resistance and thermal stability. Hybrid feather and kaolin reinforced NR-composites at 8:2 pphr respectively gave enhanced hardness, tensile strength and abrasion resistance. While, hybridization at ratio 4:6 pphr of feather and kaolin, enhanced thermal stability. Based on the results of this investigation, the treated feathers enhanced the physiomechanical properties while kaolin enhanced the thermal stability. The hybridized samples can find possible end uses as printing rollers, computer accessories and footwear soles.