Tensile testing was performed on a WDW-20 universal testing
machine (Zwick Roell, Germany) at a cross head speed of
500 mm min1 at room temperature. The dumbbell-shape specimen
(Fig. 1) with width 5 mm, thickness 2 mm and gauge length
20 mm was tested by following ISO 37:2005. Five specimens were
tested and averaged for each sample.
Tear testing was also performed on the WDW-20 universal
testing machine (Zwick Roell, Germany). The test specimen was
unnicked angle shape (without a nick of specified depth) with
2 mm in thickness, according to ISO 34-1: 2004. The rate of separation
of the grips was 500 mm min1 and five test pieces per
sample were tested.
The test for Shore A hardness was carried on LX-A rubber Shore
A hardness tester (Handpi Chemical Machinery Inc.), according to
ISO 7619-1: 2004. For each test and type of composites, 10 specimens
were tested and the average values were reported.