High performance NBR/fly ash composites prepared by an environment-friendly method. (20th January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Shuyan; Tian, Junyu; Bian, Xiaofei; Wu, Yunhui
• Is Part Of: Composites science and technology. Volume 186(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01-20
• Subjects: Fly ash -- Tannic acid -- Environment -- Composite -- Rubber; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Fibrous composites; Periodicals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compscitech.2019.107909
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-3538

Abstract

Abstract: Fly ash (FA) is a solid waste from coal-fired power stations, which can cause serious environmental problems without further treatment. Although FA has been successfully utilized in building materials, the reuse of FA in the polymer industry has remained a great challenge due to the difficulty in organically-modifying the smooth surfaces of FA particles. In this study, by introducing tannic acid (TA, a naturally occurring plant polyphenol), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/FA/TA composites were prepared via a simple environment-friendly method. The properties of the products were thoroughly investigated and experiments showed that the TA incorporation into NBR/FA composites resulted in formation of hydrogen bonds among NBR, FA, and TA, leading to dramatic improvement in surface adhesion between NBR and FA. As a consequence, the tensile strength of the NBR/20FA/0.4 TA composite was ~110.4% larger than that of NBR/20FA composite, thus opening a new route to large-scale practical use of FA in the polymer industry.