Newsprint microcrystalline fibers reinforced styrene butadiene rubber as a low thermal conducting material: Effect of electron beam irradiation and fiber content

Abstract The present study focuses on utilizing polystyrene emulsion treated newsprint microcrystalline fibers (NPMCF). These treated fibers were then added to styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) at different concentrations, namely, 3, 6, 9, and 12 phr (part per hundred part of rubber). Mixing of ingredients was carried out on a rubber roll mill and afterward molded as a thin film on a hot press, then, exposed to electron beam irradiation doses up to 200 kGy so as to enhance the treatment of the composites. Mechanical properties of the composites, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, tensile modulus, and cross‐link density were enhanced by adding the treated fiber to SBR and by irradiation, and this enhancement was obtained at 6 phr fiber at 100 kGy. Measurements of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved the adhesion of the treated fibers to SBR. The thermal conductivity was measured for the prepared composites as a function of electron beam irradiation and fiber content. It was found that the thermal conductivity decreases according to fiber loading (up to 6 phr fiber) and irradiation dose.