Effects of fiber aspect ratio, fiber content, and bonding agent on tensile and tear properties of short-fiber reinforced rubber

Both tensile and tear properties of short-fiber reinforced Chloroprene rubber have been studied as functions of the fiber aspect ratio and fiber content. Both properties increased when both the fiber aspect ratio and fiber content were increased. The fiber reinforced rubbers exhibited maximum values of these properties at a fiber aspect ratio of about 300. When the fiber aspect ratio exceeds 400, the mechanical properties decreased with the fiber content because of the non-uniform dispersion of fibers. The tensile modulus was compared with the prediction by the Halpin-Tsai equations for randomly oriented cases. A bonding agent was used in the fiber treating process. It was found that the ultimate tensile strength, torque, tearing energy and tensile modulus of the rubbers with treated fibers were much higher than those with untreated ones.