Thermal aging, physico‐mechanical, dynamic mechanical properties of chlorinated polyethylene/red mud composites

Abstract Industrial waste red mud (RM) was filled in the chlorinated polyethylene rubber (CPE) to replace carbon black (CB) at various ratios, that is, RM/CB (40/20, 20/40, 10/50, 5/55, 0/60) in the production of CPE/RM composite materials. The mechanical and thermal properties of CPE/RM with varied proportion of RM and CB were studied. The tensile strength of the CPE/RM/CB composite were improved compare to without RM (ie, improved from 10 to 14 MPa) and thermal degradation temperature ( T d2 ) has improved from 435°C to 445°C, when the content of red mud was 20 phr. After aging for 3 days, the hardness and tensile strength of CPE/RM/CB composites were improved, that is, increment in hardness by 10 shore A and tensile strength by 2 MPa. CPE shows good thermal stability (with T d2 = 445°C) with the increment of RM and CB proportion, noticeably, when the ratio of red mud/carbon black is 20/40. The analysis by RPA (Rubber Process Analyzer) showed Payne effect became apparent when the amount of red mud was more than 20 phr. The compound with 60 phr CB load showed the largest elastic modulus G ′ which decreased fastest at strain 0.28%, almost as the same as 40/20 CB/RM, but the elastic modulus G ′ of 40/20 CB/RM showed a slight decrease when the strain exceeded 65%. The overall properties of the composite filled with 20 phr red mud were better in comparison with other varied ratios. The developed composite can be used to manufacture plastic runway or rubber hose.