Curing Characteristics, Tensile Properties And Morphology Of Kenaf Fibre Filled Natural Rubber Composites
Loading...
Date
2011-11
Authors
Mahir, Norjulia Ahmad
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
Natural fibres such as kenaf had been widely studied over the years as reinforcement in rubber composites. Natural fibres were found to be comparable to common synthetic fibres for application that do not require very high load bearing capabilities. Natural rubber (NR) composites with different kenaf loading i.e 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 phr was used to study the effect of kenaf loading in NR composites. Kenaf treated with NaOH was prepared to study the effect of fibre treatment on properties of kenaf filled NR composites. Natural rubber composites were prepared with different kenaf/HNT ratio loading; 30/0, 20/10, 15/15, 10/20, 0/30 (phr/phr). Kenaf fibre filled natural rubber (NR) composites with and without ENR 50 as a compatibilizer and bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulphide as a coupling agent were also prepared. Curing characteristics showed that scorch time and cure time decreased with increasing of fibre loading and for treated fibre. Tensile strength of kenaf filled natural rubber composites decreased with increasing of fibre loading but increased with for treated fibre. Swelling measurement and morphological study showed that better rubber-filler interaction was obtained with treated kenaf. Curing characteristics showed that scorch time and cure time increased with increasing of HNT in kenaf/HNT ratio loading while minimum and maximum torques decreased. When HNT ratio in kenaf/HNT loading was increased, the tensile strength and elongation at break increased but tensile modulus decreased. Swelling measurement and morphological study showed that better rubber-filler interaction was obtained with higher HNT ratio in kenaf/HNT loading. Scorch time and cure time decreased but tensile strength, elongation at break and tensile modulus increased with the presence of ENR 50 as a compatibilizer. Kenaf filled NR composites with the presence of ENR 50 and Si-69 gave better rubber-filler interaction. With the presence of Si-69 in the NR composites, the scorch time and cure time decreased but tensile strength, elongation at break and tensile modulus increased.
Description
Keywords
Natural fibres were found to be comparable , to common synthetic fibres