Publication: Preparation and characterization of starch and hybrid starch silica filled natural rubber foam
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Date
2012-07-01
Authors
Abu Hassan Al Shaari, Nurul Jannah
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Abstract
In this research, the effect of using organic filler which is corn starch with different filler loading towards the end properties of the rubber foam produced was studied. Corn starch loading was varied from 0 to 20 phr. Precipitated reinforcing silica was incorporated into the starch filled natural rubber foam for the second series of this research in order to improve the strength of the foam. The ratio of corn starch to silica hybrid filler was varied i.e. 20/0, 15/5, 10/10, 5/15 and 0/20. The effect on the end properties was evaluated and analyzed by measuring both physical and mechanical properties of the foam. Preparation of the foam was conducted according to Dunlop method. The produced foam was later been cut into certain size of specimen for characterization stage. The characterization method includes tensile test, compression set, compression test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) evaluation, hardness test, and foam density test. Increasing of corn starch loading increased the density, hardness, and compression set percentage of the foam but decreased its density, elastic recovery and tensile properties. While addition of hybrid filler with different ratio into the foam resulted in variations of physical and mechanical properties depending on existence of agglomerations and filler interactions with rubber matrix. If starch dominate the hybrid ratio it produced better melt viscosity and stable foam. While domination of silica in the hybrid ratio increased the filler and rubber interaction, thus increased the foam strength. Same amount of starch and silica ratio (10/10) increased interactions between fillers and lead to formation of agglomerations.