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Abstract:
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Natural rubber/isora fibre composites were cured at various temperatures. The solvent swelling
characteristics of natural rubber composites containing both untreated and alkali treated fibres were investigated
in aromatic and aliphatic solvents like toluene, and n-hexane. The diffusion experiments were conducted by
the sorption gravimetric method. The restrictions on elastomer swelling exerted by isora fibre as well as the
anisotropy of swelling of the composite have been confirmed by this study. Composite cured at 100°C shows
the lowest percentage swelling. The uptake of aromatic solvent is higher than that of aliphatic solvent for the
composites cured at all temperatures. The effect of fibre loading on the swelling behaviour of the composite was
also investigated in oils like petrol, diesel, lubricating oil etc. The % swelling index and swelling coefficient of
the composite were found to decrease with increase in fibre loading. This is due to the increased hindrance exerted
by the fibres at higher fibre loadings and also due to the good fibre-rubber interactions. Maximum uptake
of solvent was observed with petrol followed by diesel and then lubricating oil. The presence of bonding agent in
the composites restrict the swelling considerably due to the strong interfacial adhesion. At a fixed fibre loading,
the alkali treated fibre composite showed lower percentage swelling compared to the untreated one. |