Effect of mechanical activation of natural filler on the properties of elastomeric composites

In this paper, the structure and surface properties of a mechanically activated filler based on rice processing products were studied. The particles of the natural filler were mechanically activated on a vibrating and planetary ball mill with different impact times and abrasion forces. The particles of the filler were characterized by laser diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray phase analysis. To study the possibility of using rice production waste in rubber products, model elastomeric compositions were made on laboratory rollers according to a standardized method with a complete replacement of industrial low-strength carbon black. It was determined that the mechanical activation of a natural filler in a planetary mill leads to an improvement in the physical-chemical parameters of the particle surface (the average size of the aggregates decreases by 2.2 times, the specific external surface increases by 3.1 times), increases the interfacial interaction of the filler with rubber (up to 33.9%), increases the Mooney viscosity values of rubber mixtures, increases resistance rubber to premature vulcanization (by 23.1%–61.5%) and leads to the production of vulcanizates with higher elastic strength indicators.