Carbon black is widely used as a reinforcing filler in elastomeric compounds. It is derived from non-renewable resources, such as natural gas or petroleum-derived oils through a chemical-thermal conversion. Novel fillers from sustainable resources provide an opportunity to meet market needs for materials with increased biobased content, while mitigating environmental and human health concerns. The agricultural industry produces many waste streams that are rich in lignocellulosic fibers, which can be used as fillers for elastomers and plastics. In this research, almond shells and rice hulls were torrefied between 200-300 <sup>o</sup>C to remove volatiles and hydrophilic components. Carbon black was replaced with thetorrefied biomass in elastomer formulations for concentrations varying from 0 to 100 weight percent. Their influence as reinforcement filler on the curing process, dynamic properties, and mechanical properties of natural rubber compounds was investigated. The results will be compared with the properties of vulcanizates containing only carbon black fillers.

Torrefied agro-industrial residues as fillers in natural rubber compounds

ACS Fall 2020 Virtual Meeting

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