Rice husk fibers and their extracted silica as promising bio-based fillers for EPDM/NBR rubber blend vulcanizates

Bio-based natural wastes could be considered eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fillers for enhancing the properties and reducing the cost of final rubber products. Thus, in the present research, EPDM/NBR rubber blend composites filled with kaolin and mixed with rice husk fibers (RHFs) were prepared. Homogeneity of the EPDM/NBR blends was improved by the incorporation of maleic anhydride (MAH) as a compatibilizing agent (1 phr), as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Of all EPDM/NBR blend ratios investigated, the 25/75 blend revealed good mechanical properties, thermal stability, and the least weight swell at equilibrium (Q%) in motor oil and brake fluid. EPDM/NBR/kaolin (25/75/30) blend vulcanizates containing RHFs at various loadings demonstrated a significant improvement in swelling resistance, primarily in motor oil and brake fluid, accompanied by a slight reduction in the mechanical properties at high RHFs content. That was complemented by the enhancement of thermal stability of the rubber blends, as demonstrated by TGA analysis. Among the filler types investigated (RHFs, silica ash (SA), rice husk silica (RHS), and kaolin), RHFs exhibited the best swelling resistance of the composite vulcanizates in motor oil and brake fluid. In addition, RHS could be used successfully as a supporting filler for carbon black-reinforced EPDM/NBR composite vulcanizates because it enhanced their thermal stability and swelling resistance in the motor oil.