Mechanical properties of gamma‐irradiated EPDM/Waste newsprint microfibers composites treated using acrylic styrene emulsion as a coupling agent

This study investigated the effect of gamma radiation and acrylic styrene emulsion as a coupling agent on mechanical properties of the ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM)/newsprint microfibers composite. The recycled newsprint paper was subjected to chemical pulping and the resulted micro fibers treated by using a different ratio of acrylic styrene emulsion (5, 10, and 15 wt% to the microfibers) before mixing with EPDM rubber matrix. The effect of the treated microfibers concentration, namely, 5 up to 50 phr (part per hundred part of rubber) and the effect of different doses of gamma radiation on the mechanical properties of the EPDM/newsprint microfibers composites was investigated. The newsprint microfibers structure and EPDM/treated microfibers composite were investigated using X‐ray diffraction and FTIR analysis. The results indicated that bonding had occurred between the treated microfibers and EPDM polymer matrix. EPDM/untreated newsprint microfibers composites have achieved higher mechanical properties than EPDM matrix up to 10 phr microfibers concentration and up to 60 kGy. Meanwhile, treatment of the newsprint microfibers by using acrylic styrene emulsion leads to improve mechanical properties of EPDM/treated microfibers composites higher than that of the EPDM/untreated fibers composites. Newsprint microfibers treated using 10% acrylic styrene and gamma irradiated at 60 kGy, was found to maintain a higher tensile strength, modulus of 100% strain and toughness. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:1209–1227, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers