No abstract

The effect of carbonization temperature and heating rate on the characteristics of carbonized bamboo were investigated. Bamboo was carbonized at different temperature (250, 450 and 650°C) and heating rate (5 and 15°C/min). The results obtained shows that the char yield decreased with increasing temperature as well as heating rate. The carbon content is higher at higher temperature and heating rate. It also was observed from X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis that potassium and silica were the most predominant elements in carbonized bamboo. From Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, it can be seen that most of the functional groups were diminished as the raw bamboo was carbonized and the intensity decreased with increasing carbonization temperature. Carbonization at 650°C with heating rate of 15°C/min was the best parameter for producing carbonized bamboo which content higher carbon.

Compatibilizer is one of the processing aids used for rubber compounding which helps the incorporation of filler in rubber. In this study, the effect of trans-polyoctylene rubber (TOR) as compatibilizer on the cure characteristics and swelling behaviour of activated carbon filled styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates were studied as a function of TOR loading. Both uncompatibilized and compatibilized SBR vulcanizates with different TOR loading (2, 4, 6 and 8 phr) were prepared using two-rolls mill at room temperature. It was observed that the cure time (tc90) of compatibilized SBR vulcanizates was shorter than that of the uncompatibilized SBR vulcanizate and decreased with increasing of TOR loading up to 6 phr. The minimum torque (ML) of the uncompatibilized SBR vulcanizate was lower compared to the compatibilized vulcanizates. In contrast, the uncompatibilized SBR vulcanizate has higher maximum torque (MH) compared to the compatibilized SBR vulcanizates. As the TOR contents increased, the ML increased but MH gradually decreased. It was also reported that the value of cure rate index (CRI) of the compatibilized SBR vulcanizates increased with the increment in addition of TOR. The result also showed that the compatibilized SBR vulcanizates had lower crosslink density than that of the uncompatibilized SBR vulcanizate and slightly decreased with increasing TOR loading.

The effect of recycled silicone catheter (rSC) on tensile properties (tensile strength, modulus at 100% elongation and elongation at break) and morphology of recycled silicone catheter filled epoxidised natural rubber (ENR 50/rSC) vulcanizates were studied in loading range of 0 to 50 phr with two different size; fine (300-600μm) and coarse (1-2 cm). For tensile properties, tensile strength, modulus at 100% elongation (M100) and elongation at break (EB) for both ENR 50/rSC fine and coarse vulcanizates show increment up to 15 phr but then decreased as the rSC content increased. Comparison between ENR 50/rSC fine and coarse vulcanizates indicates that ENR 50/rSC fine vulcanizates has better tensile properties than ENR 50/rSC coarse vulcanizates due to better dispersion and filler-rubber interaction as proven in morphological study. The results indicate that the morphology of ENR 50/rSC fine vulcanizate is better than that of ENR 50/rSC coarse vulcanizates in which fine rSC well bonded with ENR 50.

The potential of activated carbon as a filler in rubber compound has been reviewed .Cure characteristics and physical properties ofImperataCylindricaactivated carbon filled natural rubber of Standard Malaysian Rubber (SMR L) were studied. SMR L was used as the elastomer and the composition of filler loading were varied from 0-50 parts per hundred rubber (phr). A semi-efficient vulcanization system was used throughout the study. The cure characteristics of the rubber compound was determined by using rheometer. The samples of hardness and resilience were measured by durometer shore A and Wallace Dunlop Tripsometer. Cure characteristics showed that cure time, t90and scorch time,t2increased as increased filler loading which indicate poor interaction between rubber and filler which slow down the vulcanization time. Minimum torque,MLand maximum torque,MHincreased as increased filler loading due to the low processability of the SMR L compounds. Crosslink density and hardness exhibit increment as increased filler loading due to increase rigidity of the SMR L compounds. The resilience will decrease correspondingly as increased in rigidity of the compounds.