Waste newsprint fibers for reinforcement of radiation-cured styrene butadiene rubber-based composites - Part I: Mechanical and physical properties

In this study, waste newsprint paper fiber was treated by polystyrene emulsion and included as a filler in styrene butadiene rubber. Then, the composites were subjected to electron beam irradiation at different irradiation doses, and follow-up was done on the effect of irradiation dose and fiber concentration on mechanical and physical properties of prepared composites. The results indicated that the mechanical properties like tensile strength, elongation at break, stiffness, and toughness were enhanced by the increase of radiation and fiber content. Also, the physical properties like soluble fraction, swelling ratio, and volume fraction of rubber in swollen gel were enhanced by the increase of radiation and fiber content. On the other hand, scanning electron microscope (SEM) results confirmed that adhesion was situated between fiber and rubber matrix.