Analysis of the mechanical behavior of rubber composites

Abstract

In this work, a novel composite of polyester with rubber particles, obtained from recycled waste car tires, was developed. Treatment of ground tire rubber of 2.5 mm average size by microwave is used to increase the interfacial adhesion between the particles and polymer matrix. The effect of volume fraction of both treated and untreated rubber particles, up to 60 vol.% of the composite, on the composites' physical and mechanical properties were studied. The density of the novel composite decreases than that of the pure polyester and the impact strength increased significantly at 50 vol.%. Tension and impact tests were performed to compare composites' properties of both treated and untreated rubber particles. FTIR analysis is done on the treated and untreated rubber particles to study the optimum energy needed for rubber particles treatment. Morphological analysis is performed to verify the obtained results. The FTIR shows the success of the partial devulcanization process caused by microwave treatment, which improves the adhesion between GTR particles and polyester matrix. A deep theoretical analysis is done to study rubber particles' mechanical behavior and polyester resin in the composite. An empirical formula is then derived from the experimental results to calculate the actual tensile and impact strengths of the polyester rubber composites. Rubber does not participate in the tensile loading while it participates in impact loading, and this has a negative effect on tensile strength and a positive effect on impact strength. Keywords: Recycling, waste tire rubber particles, Microwave treatment, Impact strength, Devulcanization, Microwave treatment, FTIR.