ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE GENERATED FROM SLIDING OF RUBBER ON EPOXY FILLED BY NATURAL FIBERS

Abstract

The present study investigates the effect of filling epoxy resins by natural fibers on the generation of the electrostatic charge (ESC) from the dry sliding of rubber on the proposed composites. Fine fibers of wood, rice straw and palm were added as filling material in contents of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10, 12.5, 15, 17.5 and 20 wt. %. The tested composites were loaded and slid on rubber at 2, 4, 6 and 8 N normal loads to measure ESC at contact/separation and sliding. It was found that filling epoxy composites by wood, palm and rice straw fibers reduced ESC generated after contact/separation and sliding. ESC decreased with increasing the content of the tested fibers that fill epoxy matrix. The optimal fiber content was ranging between 5.0 to 7.5 wt. %. It was observed that epoxy free from fibers displayed the highest ESC values. Besides, wood fibers showed lower ESC values than that observed for palm and rice straw fibers after contact/separation. While after sliding, palm displayed lower ESC than wood fibers. ESC generated on the rubber showed the same trend observed for the tested composites. The reduction of ESC can be explained on the position of wood and cellulose in the triboelectric series that suggests the contact of the tested fibers with rubber generates positive and negative ESC on the fibers and rubber surfaces respectively. As result of that, the values of ESC decreased. It is recommended to apply wood and palm fibers to fill epoxy to reduce the generation of ESC in floor material application.