CONTINUOUS FLOW BEAD-MILLING IMPACT ON SULFUR CURING FOR ADVANCED ELASTOMERIC RUBBER COMPOSITES

• Published in: IIUM ENGINEERING JOURNAL
• Main Authors: Omar, Mohamad Firdaus; Ali, Fathil Ah; Jami, Mohammed Saedi; Azmi, Azlin Suhaida; Ahmad, Farah; Marzuki, Mohd Zahid; Jamaluddin, Jamarosliza
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: KULLIYYAH ENGINEERING 2024
• Subjects: Engineering
• Online Access: https://www-webofscience-com.uitm.idm.oclc.org/wos/woscc/full-record/WOS:001275324200007

As an eco-friendly and technically feasible method for physical modification of materials, bead-milling has been extensively used in many industrial applications ranging from chemicals, nanomaterials, foods, and pharmaceuticals with impacts on particle size, surface morphology, stability, and overall products' performance. Apparently, there have been limited studies conducted on sulfur curative dispersion using this technology, necessitating a thorough investigation of its performance. The objectives of the present study were to explore the influence of the bead-milling process parameters, particularly rotational speed and flow rate, on the sulfur curative dispersion characteristics and to analyze its behavior within the rubber elastomer matrix. Taguchi's L9 orthogonal array experimental design was employed to identify the optimal rotational speed and flow rate of a 60-L beadmilling machine on the sulfur curative dispersion. The stability and morphology of the resulting sulfur curative dispersion were characterized, along with its mechanical properties in rubber elastomers. It was found that higher rotational speed (800 rpm) and lower flow rate (350 L/h) of the bead-milling process resulted in smaller sulfur particle sizes, leading to improved tensile strength of the rubber elastomer. This research may provide valuable insights to determine the ideal bead-milling process for sulfur curative, enhancing the mechanical properties and overall performance of elastomeric rubber composites as well as across various fields.