Effects of palm ash loading and maleated natural rubber as a coupling agent on the properties of palm‐ash‐filled natural rubber composites

Abstract

Natural rubber composites were prepared by the incorporation of palm ash at different loadings into a natural rubber matrix with a laboratory-size two-roll mill (160 Â 320 mm 2 ) maintained at 70 AE 5 C in accordance with the method described by ASTM D 3184-89. A coupling agent, maleated natural rubber (MANR), was used to improve the mechanical properties of the natural rubber composites. The results indicated that the scorch time and cure time decreased with increasing filler loading, whereas the maximum torque exhibited an increasing trend. Increasing the palm ash loading increased the tensile modulus, but the tensile strength, fatigue life, and elongation at break decreased. The rubber-filler interactions of the composites decreased with increasing filler loading. Scanning electron microscopy of the tensile fracture surfaces of the composites and rubber-filler interaction studies showed that the presence of MANR enhanced the interfacial interaction of the palm ash filler and natural rubber matrix. The presence of MANR also enhanced the tensile properties and fatigue life of palm-ash-filled natural rubber composites.

Effect of carbon black loading on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of waste tyre dust/carbon black hybrid filler filled natural rubber compounds

“…Figure 13(c) also shows that CB was dispersed and wetted by rubber matrix which indicated the good interaction between CB and NR as compared to WTD and NR. The better filler dispersion and wettability improvement of the filler by the matrix reduce the formation of stress concentration points and consequently increase the fatigue life of the composites 16. The good interaction between CB and natural rubber has resulted to highest value of fatigue life of WTD/CB hybrid filler filled natural rubber compounds.…”

Effects of partial replacement of commercial fillers by recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) powder on the properties of natural rubber composites

“…Among commercial fillers, carbon black and precipitated silica are the most important reinforcing fillers, and these are extensively used when high strength is essential. However, for some applications where cost and processability are of greatest concern, the use of non‐ or semireinforcing fillers such as clay, talc, and calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ), as well as other fillers from renewable resources and waste materials [3–6], is highly recommended. Recently, halloysite nanotubes, or HNTs, have been incorporated as reinforcing fillers in many polymer matrices such as epoxy, polypropylene, poly(vinyl alcohol), and elastomer [7–11].…”

Value-added utilization of oil palm ash: A superior recycling of the industrial agricultural waste

“…In the natural rubber processing industry, Ismail and Haw [58] have exhibited the possibility of oil palm ash as coupling agents for remedying the compatibility of hydrophilic and hydrophobic polymer matrix while enhancing its hardness, stiffness, brittleness and vulcanization curing rates. An upward trend in the maximum and minimum torque values together the tensile modulus stress were witnessed, primarily attributed to the additional friction and heat generation, existence of metal oxides and blockage or reduction in the elasticity, elongation and movement of rubber macromolecular chains [59].…”

“…Scanning electromagnetic micrographs (SEM) of oil palm ash filled natural rubber composites after fatigue fracture surface with (a) 0, (b) 10 and (c) 30 phr palm ash loadings (200×)[58].…”