Impact of fiber treatment and electron beam radiation on the properties of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber composites reinforced with banana fiber

Hamdi Radi; Reham H. Helal; Salwa M. Elmesallamy

doi:10.1515/ract-2024-0360

Article

Impact of fiber treatment and electron beam radiation on the properties of ethylene-propylene-diene rubber composites reinforced with banana fiber

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Published/Copyright: January 9, 2025

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From the journal Radiochimica Acta Volume 113 Issue 4

Abstract

Composites based on ethylene-propylene-diene rubber (EPDM) were prepared using a mechanical rotary mill. EPDM loaded with 10 phr (part per hundred part of rubber) banana fiber (BF) treated with potassium permanganate (KMNO₄)_, maleic anhydride (MA), or silane. These composites were subjected to various electron beam radiation doses up to 150 kGy. The physical, mechanical, and thermal properties of these composites as a function of irradiation dose were investigated. Ionizing radiation led to a significant improvement in the properties of all compositions. Besides, an improvement in the mechanical properties was attained with the addition of treated banana fiber especially that treated with silane.

Keywords: EPDM rubber; banana fiber; electron beam radiation; mechanical properties; swelling properties

Corresponding author: Hamdi Radi, Radiation Chemistry Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt, E-mail: hradi_99@yahoo.com

Research ethics: Not applicable.
Informed consent: Not applicable.
Author contributions: Hamdi Radi: Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Polymer composites synthesis, Characterization, Data interpretation, Writing – original draft, editing & reviewing. Reham H. Helal: Conceptualization, Methodology, Characterization, Polymer composites synthesis, Data interpretation, Writing – original draft, editing & reviewing. Salwa M. Elmesallamy: Methodology, Writing – original draft, editing & reviewing.
Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare that no conflict of interest.
Research funding: None declared.
Data availability: Not applicable.

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Received: 2024-10-19

Accepted: 2024-12-25

Published Online: 2025-01-09

Published in Print: 2025-04-28

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ract-2024-0360

Keywords for this article

EPDM rubber; banana fiber; electron beam radiation; mechanical properties; swelling properties