Thermogravimetric and Swelling Studies on the Natural Rubber Based Super Elastomer

Abstract

The Thermal stability and solvent transport properties of elastomeric blends of natural rubber and exudated resin of Ailanthus Malabaricum tree were studied in detail. The elastomeric blend samples have been prepared from solution casting technique. Benzene was used as a common solvent for both the constituent polymers to prepare the blends. The resulting material exhibits excellent elastic properties. Thermogravimetry was employed to analyze the thermal stability of natural rubber by the addition of resin. The temperatures at various weight losses for different samples were determined from Thermogravimetric curves. The activation energy of degradation was calculated from Horowitz Metzger equation. The addition of natural rubber improves the thermal stability of resin. The solvent transport properties of the resulting samples were studied in benzene. The combination of natural rubber and the resin exudated from Ailanthus Malabaricum tree can be used to prepare the elastomeric material with suitable properties for specific applications.

Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of electrically conductive TPNR/GNP nanocomposites assisted with ultrasonication

“…In Fig 5(A), the weight loss of the neat TPNR occurred in three steps. The first step started from 100 to 320°C, which is due to the evaporation of bound water molecules in rubber [21]. Interestingly, this stage of weight loss was not observed for TPNR nanocomposites upon the reinforcement of GNP.…”

“…Meanwhile, the latter stage of weight loss could be attributed to either the continuous degradation of NR as has been reported in literature [22] that NR decomposed in two steps, or the thermal degradation of the polymer as in agreement with Jeske et al [24] showing maximum mass loss rate of PP at 462°C. These degradations occurred via oxidation and chain scission [21]. However, the incorporation of GNP at low weight fractions slightly influenced the rate of the decomposition as observed by the shiftment of the TGA curves throughout the heating temperature.…”