Abstract:
Physical property changes of radiation vulcanization at 16 kGy of either silk fibers reinforced or carbon fibers reinforced rubber composites were studied. With fiber free rubber composite as a control, it was revealed that either silk fibers or carbon fibers loaded composites (with randomized direction) had higher tear strength, modulus of elasticity and hardness with lower in tensile strength and % elongation at break. Effect of fiber length, fiber content, fiber orientation (unidirectional and bidirectional) and fiber spacing on the above mentioned physical properties of fiber reinforced rubber composites had tensile strength, tear strength and modulus of elasticity in the longitudinal direction higher than those properties in transverse. Incontrast, % elongation at break in the transverse direction was higher that % elongation at break in the longitudinal direction.