VULCANIZATION CHARACTERISTICS AND MECHANICAL-PROPERTIES OF NITRILE RUBBER FILLED WITH SHORT LEATHER FIBERS

Leather shavings have been used as filler in short fibre form for nitr ile rubber reinforcement. Shavings neutralized with sodium bicarbonate and ammonia showed improved vulcanization characteristics and mechani cal properties, whereas sodium hydroxide neutralized shavings exhibite d poor properties. Swelling of the vulcanizates in water and 1% NaOH w as found to increase with leather loading, whereas in MEK a reversed t rend was observed. Thermogravimetric analysis indicates that the therm al stabilities of the vulcanizates fall between those of pure leather and gum nitrile rubber vulcanizate.