Chemical evaluation of composites natural rubber/carbon black/leather tannery projected to antistatic flooring

ABSTRACT In this study the composites which are commonly called NR/CB/Leather were developed in order to apply them as antistatic flooring and coating. They were developed using vulcanized natural rubber, carbon black to add an electric conduction property and industrial leather waste. The leather industrial waste was micronized and added to the rubber matrix in proportions of 60 and 80 phr using an opened mixing cylinder according to ASTM D 3182 standard. The composites were exposed to the sanitizing agents, (i) bleach and (ii) disinfectant, aiming to simulate a real cleaning context, and to meet the health standards of the Brazilian Ministry of health. Physical‐chemical and microbiological evaluations were carried out to determine the structural and chemical stabilities of the composites. After this, low water absorption level (