Fabrication of Tampico-Reinforced Natural Rubber Composite and the Evaluation of Mechanical Properties

Due to the ease of manufacturing and excellent damping capacity, the rubber matrix composites have gained a lot of attention. Natural fiber-reinforced composites belong to an interesting category of composites because these are completely biodegradable. During the current investigation, Tampico fiber-reinforced rubber composites were fabricated, and the mechanical properties such as tensile strength, tear strength and hardness were determined experimentally and also the fractured specimens were examined using a SEM. A composite with 10-mm long fiber and 15 phr exhibited the highest tear strength which is 22% more than that of the natural rubber and a composite with 10-mm long fiber and 45 phr exhibited the shore hardness, i.e., 60 which is 185% more than the natural rubber.