Arguello 2016 J. Phys. Conf. Ser. 687 012088

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IMRMPT2015 IOP Publishing
Journal of Physics: Conference Series 687 (2016) 012088 doi:10.1088/1742-6596/687/1/012088
Hardness and compression resistance of natural rubber and

synthetic rubber mixtures
J M Arguello1 and A Santos1

1
Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana Seccional Bucaramanga, Floridablanca, Colombia.
E-mail: juan.arguello@upb.edu.co
Abstract: This project aims to mechanically characterize through compression resistance and
shore hardness tests, the mixture of hevea brasiliensis natural rubber with butadiene synthetic
rubber (BR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber
(EPDM). For each of the studied mixtures were performed 10 tests, each of which increased by
10% the content of synthetic rubber in the mixture; each test consisted of carrying out five tests
of compression resistance and five tests of shore hardness. The specimens were vulcanized on a
temperature of 160°C, during an approximate time of 15 minutes, and the equipment used in the
performance of the mechanical tests were a Shimadzu universal machine and a digital durometer.
The results show that the A shore hardness increases directly proportional, with a linear trend,
with the content of synthetic BR, SBR or EPDM rubber present in the mixture, being the EPDM
the most influential. With respect to the compression resistance is observed that the content of
BR or SBR increase this property directly proportional through a linear trend; while the EPDM
content also increases but with a polynomial trend.
1. Introduction
Polymers have had a quick expansion in recent years, which has happened at the expense of traditional
materials in already established applications, also the emergence of new applications and markets. This
boom is due to the great versatility of properties that present these materials, among which highlights
its low weight, corrosion resistance, ease of processing and economy, among others.
The natural and synthetic polymers known as elastomers have as main characteristic its ability to
present a fully recoverable and unlimited instant elasticity to high deformations; due to this characteristic
are widely used in the manufacture of elastic bands, tires, seals, hoses, etc.
Due to the large amount of elastomers available in the market and to the variation in mechanical
properties that each of these materials presents, this project aims to mechanically characterize, through
compression resistance and shore hardness tests, the mixture of hevea brasiliensis with BR, SBR and
EPDM; to determine how vary these properties as a function of the amount of synthetic rubber present
in the sample.
2. Conceptual framework
2.1. Elastomers
Elastomers are materials which characteristic property is the deployment of a large amount of
deformation, generally greater than 200%, when a force is applied to them [1]. These materials have
high molecular weights and flexibility. Rubbers are classified according to their origin in natural and
synthetic. Natural rubber is obtained from a white liquid called latex, which is found in many plants,
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being the most representative the tree of the specie Hevea Brasiliensis; synthetic rubbers are prepared
from saturated hydrocarbons through chemical reactions and there is a wide variety of these rubbers,
some of which have better mechanical properties than natural rubber.
The tire manufacturing industry is the largest consumer of natural and synthetic rubber [2-4] being
the most commonly used natural rubber, styrene butadiene rubber, butadiene rubber and the rubber
ethylene propylene diene monomer [5,6].
2.2. Vulcanization
The rubbers are polymers derived from dienes and as a result they possess double bonds in the main
chains. The existence of these is used to insert in a controlled manner the clips between the chains
through a process known as vulcanization. Through this process, the polymer that has very poor
properties is transformed into a tough, tenacious and elastic rubber. The degree of vulcanization affects
significantly these properties. The vulcanization, which uses sulphur atoms, is a common method of
forming these cross-links; this process was accidentally invented by Charles Goodyear [7,8].
2.3. Mechanical Properties of rubbers

The stress-deformation curve for an elastomer shows that virtually all the curve represents elastic
deformation; therefore, elastomers show a nonlinear elastic behaviour. At the beginning the elasticity
modulus (E) is reduced due to the unwinding of the chains. However, once extended the chains, any
additional elastic deformation happens thanks to the stretch of the links, which generates a high E.
The number of cross links determines the elasticity of the rubber or the quantity of Sulphur added to
the material. Low Sulphur additions leave a soft and flexible rubber; while percentage increase, this
restrict the unrolling of the chains and the rubber is made harder, more rigid and fragile. Many more
efficient vulcanization systems that do not have sulphur have been developed in recent years [9].
A rubber hardness is an indication of its rigidity against moderate stress, as those that often has to
bear in service. The most popular method of rubbers hardness is the shore A in which is performed the
measurement with an instrument called a durometer, based on the penetration of a frusto-conical tip
against a calibrated metal spring reaction.
3. Methodology
3.1. Used materials

The raw material used for the preparation of the different specimens were: natural rubber Hevea
Brasiliensis, BR, SBR and EPDM. The accelerators added during the mixing process were the 2-
mercapto benzothiazole (MBT), which helps the vulcanized process and curing of the rubber; and
Thiuram, which is a secondary accelerator that is used to give consistency to the mixture in the
vulcanization and supports the MBT.
Other used materials were sulphur, since being mixed with the raw rubber improve its hardness and
resistance and is compatible with the selected accelerators, has low cost and present a high efficiency in
the vulcanization process; and the black smoke, which has carbon particles that are mixed with the
rubber and other components that allow a better mixture and composition in the vulcanization.
3.2. Preparation of the mixtures

For the manufacture of the specimens was used the same amount of additives in the mixing of all the
specimens in order to not add additional variables that prevent analyse the relationship between the
percentage of used rubber and the mechanical properties of hardness and compression resistance. In
Table 1 are related the percentages of used materials in each of the tests performed, and were defined
according to the permissible ranges found in the bibliographic information collected, and that
correspond to: accelerators (0.2-0.8%), sulphur (0.5-3%) and black smoke (20-40%). For each specimen
a total weight of 800 grams of rubber was taken as a reference.
2
Table 1. Amount of each material used in the rubber mixtures.

Test Natural Synthetic Black Smoke Sulphur MBT Thiuram
Rubber Rubber
% Weight % Weight % Weight % Weight % Weight % Weight
(g) (g) (g) (g) (g) (g)
1 0 0 100 800 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
2 10 80 90 720 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
3 20 160 80 640 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
4 30 240 70 560 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
5 40 320 60 480 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
6 50 400 50 400 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
7 60 480 40 320 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
8 70 560 30 240 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
9 80 640 20 160 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
10 90 720 10 80 20 160 1 8 0.75 6 0.25 2
The time used to homogenize the mixture was between 50 and 60min. The mixing process was
carried out in the following way: initially are laminated independently for 2min the synthetic rubber and
natural rubber for 7min; subsequently two rubbers are mixed by an approximate time of 8min. Then is
added the MBT accelerator and laminated the mixture for 5min; and for last is added the Thiuram and
mixed for 5min; and finally is added the black smoke and laminated the mixture for 10min, time in
which you get a homogeneous mixture and compact mixture, as you can see in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Lamination process of components that conforms the rubber mixtures.
3.3. Vulcanization process of the specimens

For the process of vulcanization was used a total weight of the mixture between 650 and 700 grams, in
order to avoid excess material in moulds; the temperature and pressure used were 160°C and 90kPa,
respectively. The processing time was 15min.
3.4. Tests performed

Specimens were subjected to hardness shore A, and to compression resistance of 25% deformation; the
equipment used was a digital durometer and a Shimadzu universal machine. In total 8 hardness tests and
14 tests of compression for each test were performed.
4. Obtained results
The results of the average values of hardness and resistance to compression, for each of the mixtures of
rubbers are listed in Figures 2 and 3 respectively.
Figures 2 and 3 allow to observe that both the Shore A hardness, as the resistance to compression
(25%) increase when the natural rubber Hevea Brasiliensis is mixed with synthetic rubbers, being the
3
most influential the EPDM. The tendency of these properties is directly proportional to the content of
synthetic rubber in the mixture and they usually have a linear behaviour.
Figure 2. Variation of Shore A Hardness in Hevea Brasiliensis natural rubber and

Synthetic rubber.
Figure 3. Variation of Compression Resistance at 25% in Hevea Brasiliensis natural Rubber and
Synthetic rubber.
5. Conclusions
Shore A hardness in the mixtures present a directly proportional behaviour with a linear tendency, in
function of the content of BR, SBR and EPDM present, being the EPDM the more influential.
The compression resistance at 25% is increased in a directly proportional way through a linear
tendency with the content of synthetic rubber BR and SBR; while with the content of EPDM also is
increased but with a polynomial tendency of third order.
References
[1] D R Askeland and P P Phulé 2004 Ciencia e ingeniería de los materiales 4th ed (México: Thompson)
[2] T M Letcher and D A Vallero 2011 Waste: A handbook for management 1st ed (Boston: Academic Press)
chapter 21 pp 297–320
[3] J Karger-Kocsis, L Mészáros and T Bárány 2013 Journal of Materials Science 48-1 1
[4] P J H Van Beukering and M A Janssen 2001 Resources Conservation and Recycling 33-4 235
[5] K Fukumori, M Matsushita, H Okamoto, N Sato, Y Suzuki and K Takeuchi 2002 JSAE Review 23-2 259
[6] H Nabil, H Ismail and A R Azura 2013 Materials and Design 50 27
[7] V V Rajan, W K Dierkes, R Joseph and J W M Noordermeer 2006 Progress in Polymer Science 31-9 811
[8] M Akiba and A S Hashim 1997 Progress in Polymer Science 22-3 475
[9] C A Harper 2007 Handbook of materials products design 3rd ed (Unite States: Mc Graw Hill)

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Journal of Physics: Conference

PAPER • OPEN ACCESS You may also like

This content was downloaded from IP address 115.76.51.54 on 28/08/2024 at 04:30

Hardness and compression resistance of natural rubber and

J M Arguello1 and A Santos1

2.3. Mechanical Properties of rubbers

3.1. Used materials

3.2. Preparation of the mixtures

Table 1. Amount of each material used in the rubber mixtures.

Figure 1. Lamination process of components that conforms the rubber mixtures.

3.3. Vulcanization process of the specimens

3.4. Tests performed

Figure 2. Variation of Shore A Hardness in Hevea Brasiliensis natural rubber and

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