Potential Eco-friendly Application of Sugarcane Bagasse Ash in the Rubber Industry

Inorganic fillers (mainly obtained from residue recycling/reuse operations) have been widely used as an alternative reinforcement in polymer composites to replace commercial silica. In this study, we analyze the interaction between Sugarcane Bagasse Ash (SCBA) and natural rubber using Bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl] Tetrasulfide (TESPT) as the silane coupling agent and Tetramethylthiuram Disulfide (TMTD) as the curing alternative system. Based on the results, we were able to validate their influence on the physical properties of the obtained composites. In particular, the coupling agent used in this study led to an improved interaction between SCBA and the polymer matrix, which was corroborated by the resulting mechanical response (stress-strain tests) and DMA (tensile strength) characterizations. Therefore, these findings encourage further research to explore a process at the industrial level to reuse SCBA waste and, thus, contribute to the protection of the environment.