Document Type : Research Article
Authors
1
Department of Polymers Engineering and Petrochemical Industries, Faculty of Materials Engineering, University of Babylon, Al-Hilla City, Iraq.
2
Department of Polymer and Petrochemical Industries Engineering College of Materials Engineering, University of Babylon, Al- Hilla –51001, Iraq Hilla - Najaf street
Abstract
In this paper, the reuse of tires crumb rubber (TCR) has been studied by adding it to natural rubber/styrene butadiene rubber (NR/SBR) compounds with many loading levels such as ( 15,20,25,30 p h r), as well as adding the 40 p h r from HAF-N.330 to NR/SBR for comparison. TCR is cheap and helps the formation of porous rubber compounds, which help to absorb more amounts from bacteria solution and increases wettability by reducing the contact angles. Many tests were carried out to obtain the required specifications, such as processing properties, crosslink density, and surface morphology, such as electron microscopy (SEM) images, contact angles, mechanical properties, and compression set. Results proved that increasing TCR levels in NR/ SBR compounds leads to a reduction in cure rate index (CRI), tensile strength, the difference in torque (∆H), and crosslink density by 35.1 %, 45.74 %, 68.4 % and 38.46 %, respectively. FTIR spectra proved the high and strong bond appearance at the control sample (without TCR) and weak interaction at 30 p h r of TCR. In addition, the SEM micrograph images show the porous rubber surface at 25 and 30 p h r, which allows for the absorption of more amounts of bacteria solution and the leaching of zinc oxide nanoparticles to the surface, then attack bacteria. Therefore the 30 p h r in compound (E) had a high inhibition zone against S. aureus 2cm and against E. coli 1 cm compared with an inhibition zone of the control sample without TCR 0.5 cm against S. aureus and no activity against E. coli.
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