Short fiber reinforced elastomeric composites with enhanced mechanical and tribological properties for potential application in V-belts

Piyush GuptaSantanu ChattopadhyayNarayan Ch. Das^*

• Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India

The effect of aramid short fibers on the cure characteristics, processing behavior, mechanical and physical properties like strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, compression set, moduli, and viscoelastic properties of ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM) is investigated. The EPDM rubber is reinforced with hybrid fillers like aramid fibers, silica, and carbon black while undergoing peroxide vulcanization. Masterbatches are prepared using an internal mixer while keeping different fiber percentages such as 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15 &20 phr. Then, the impact of these different fiber percentages on the viscoelastic, mechanical and dynamic properties of the base rubber of the V-belt is studied; the results indicate that viscosity, maximum-minimum torque, and cure rate were increased by adding fiber, the fiber content has a great influence on the mechanical properties as well. At just 6 phr fiber content, both tensile strength and elongation at break show notable improvement, while abrasion loss reaches its lowest value. Wear resistance is maximized at 50 phr carbon black, as revealed by the analytical results. The introduction of fibers decreased resilience and flexibility (which led to poorer results in flex testing for high-concentration fiber-reinforced composites). Heat build-up and compression set were increased with fiber concentration for the composites. From the De-Mattia Fatigue Study, it is clear that 6 phr of fiber concentration shows the best fatigue life, in which the crack initiates after 367 kilocycles, which is the highest among all, and full rupture of the specimen occurs at 545 kilocycles. This research allows for the development of rubber composites with precisely controlled mechanical properties for demanding engineering uses.In addition, it provides a valuable benchmark for future investigations of alternative fiber reinforcement, especially natural ones. A better understanding of the fundamental principles of tension, tear, and wear in such compounds can lead to the design of more sustainable materials due to their extended lifespan.