Azura A. Rashid

Curing Characteristics and Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Styrene Butadiene Rubber/Virgin Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber (SBR/vNBR) and Styrene Butadiene Rubber/Recycled Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber (SBR/rNBR) Blends

Curing characteristics and mechanical and morphological properties of styrene butadiene rubber/virgin acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (SBR/vNBR) and styrene butadiene rubber/recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (SBR/rNBR) were investigated. Results indicated that the curing characteristics, such as scorch time, t2, and cure time, t90, of SBR/vNBR and SBR/rNBR blends decreased with increasing vNBR and rNBR content. At similar blend ratios, particularly up to 15 phr, SBR/rNBR blends exhibited higher t2 and t90 compared with SBR/vNBR blends. Minimum torque (ML) and maximum torque (MH) of SBR/vNBR blends significantly increased with increasing vNBR content. For SBR/rNBR blends, ML increased with increasing rNBR content, but MH exhibited the opposite trend. Tensile strength, elongation at break (Eb), resilience, and fatigue decreased with increasing virgin and recycled NBR content in both blends. Up to 15 phr, the tensile strength, Eb and fatigue life (Kc) of SBR/rNBR blends were higher than in SBR/vNBR blends. The M100 (stress at 100% elongation), hardness, and cross-linking density of both blends also showed an increasing trend with increasing vNBR and rNBR content. The scanning electron microscopy study indicates that rNBR exhibited a weak rNBR-SBR matrix interaction particularly when more than 15 phr of rNBR was used, thus decreasing the mechanical properties of SBR/rNBR blends.

The Effect of Filler Loading and Epoxidation on Paper-Sludge-Filled Natural Rubber Composites

The effect of filler loading and epoxidation on curing characteristics, dynamic properties, tensile properties, morphology, and rubber-filler interactions of paper-sludge-filled natural rubber compounds have been studied. Two different types of natural rubber, SMR L and ENR 50, having 0% and 50% of epoxidation and conventional vulcanization were used. Paper sludge was used as a filler and the loading range was from 0 to 40 phr. Compounding was carried out using a laboratory-sized two-roll mill. The scorch time for both rubber compounds decreased with filler loading. The cure time was found to decrease with increasing filler content for SMR L vulcanizates, whereas for ENR 50, the cure time seemed to be independent of the filler loading. Dynamic properties, i.e., maximum elastic torque, viscous torque, and tan delta, increase with filler loading in both grades of natural rubber. Results also indicate that both rubbers show increment in tensile modulus but inverse trend for elongation at break and tensile strength. However, for a fixed filler loading, ENR 50 compounds consistently exhibit higher maximum torque, modulus at 100% elongation, and modulus at 300% elongation, but lower elongation at break than SMR L compounds. In the case of tensile strength, ENR 50 possesses higher tensile strength than SMR L at 10 to 20 phr, but the difference is quite small at 30 and 40 phr. These findings might be associated with better rubber-filler interaction between the polar hydroxyl group of cellulose fiber and the epoxy group of ENR 50.

Organoclay Filled Natural Rubber Nanocomposites: The Effects of Filler Loading

Organoclay filled natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites were prepared using a laboratory two-roll mill. The effect of organoclay loading up to 10 phr was studied. The vulcanized nanocomposites were subjected to mechanical, thermal, and swelling tests. The results indicated that the tensile strength and elongation at break reached optimum at 4 phr of organoclay loading, and the incorporation of organoclay increased the tensile modulus and hardness of NR nanocomposites. The thermal degradation was shifted to a higher temperature and the weight loss decreased with incorporation of organoclay. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were employed to characterize the microstructure of NR nanocomposites. Results from TEM and XRD show the formation of intercalated and exfoliated individual silicate layers of organoclay filled NR nanocomposites particularly at low filler loading (< 4 phr).

The Effect of Electron Beam (EB) Irradiation in Presence of TMPTA on Cure Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Styrene Butadiene Rubber/Recycled Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber (SBR/NBRr) Blends

The effect of electron beam (EB) irradiation on the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of unirradiated and irradiated SBR/NBRr blends were investigated. The SBR/NBRr blends were prepared at 95/5, 85/15, 75/25, 65/35, and 50/50 blend ratio with and without the presence of a polyfunctional monomer, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA). Results indicated that the scorch time t2, cure time t90 and minimum torque (ML) of irradiated SBR/NBRr blend decreased, but the maximum torque (MH) particularly at 35 and 50 phr of NBRr (recycled NBR) increased with the presence of TMPTA. The stress at 100% elongation (M100), hardness, cross-linking density and tensile strength (particularly after 15 phr of NBRr content) of irradiated SBR/NBRr blends increased after irradiation but the elongation at break (EB) and resilience decreased. The irradiated SBR/NBRr blends showed lower thermal stability than non-irradiated blends. Scanning electron microscopy proved the enhancement in tensile strength when more NBRr were added in SBR matrix where the irradiated surfaces demonstrate more irregularity with increasing crack branching (fracture planes are located at different heights) due to the increased of cross-linked density.

Maleated Natural Rubber as a Coupling Agent for Recycled High Density Polyethylene/Natural Rubber/Kenaf Powder Biocomposites

Kenaf powder (KP) was incorporated into recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE)/natural rubber (NR) blend using an internal mixer at 165°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites decreased, while the tensile modulus increased with increasing filler loading. The water absorption was found to increase as the filler content increased. The maleic anhydride grafted natural rubber was prepared and used to enhance the composites performance. The addition of MANR as a coupling agent improved the tensile properties of rHDPE/NR/KP biocomposites. The water absorption was also reduced with the addition of MANR.

Natural Weathering Test of Styrene Butadiene Rubber and Recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber (SBR/NBRr) Blends

The effect of recycled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRr) content of SBR/NBRr blends on natural weathering was studied. Three different size of NBRr (S1; 117–334 µm, S2; 0.85–15.0 mm and S3; direct sheeted form) were used and the blends were exposed to natural weathering for 3 and 6 months. The results indicated that the SBR/NBRr blends with smallest size of NBRr (S1) show a better retention of tensile properties, which are able to withstand better weathering than coarser size (S2 and S3) of SBR/NBRr blends. The presence of hydroxyl, carbonyl and nitro group after exposure to natural weathering was detected in FTIR analysis, which related to the UV oxidation process of rubber blends. The scanning electron microscopy proved that the SBR/NBRr blends with smallest size of NBRr (S1) with higher content of NBRr, shows a better resistant to natural weathering.

Comparison of Mechanical Properties and Curing Characteristics of Natural Rubber Composites with Different Coupling Agents

Nanosilica (NS) was recently used as a filler to improve mechanical properties, morphology behaviors of natural rubber (NR) composites and also for light colored product. NS is hard to disperse in NR composite compare to carbon black due to large number of Silanol (Si-OH) group leads to strong filler-filler interaction. Silane coupling agent was extensively used to improve reinforce efficiency of NS and also for good filler-matrix interaction by reducing Si-OH group. In this study, Bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl] tetrasulfide (Si-69) and (3-aminopropy)triethoxysilane (APTES) were used as a coupling agents with various loading 1.5, 3, 4.5 phr in conventional sulphur vulcanization system. Both Si69 and APTES gave a significance of the NR compound processing. However, hardness was gradually decreased up to 4.5 phr due to plasticizing effect. Si-69 can increase crosslink density because of 4 molecular of sulphur (S) and its structure retarded the curing where APTES accelerated the cured because APTES has lower molecular weight and viscosity than Si-69.

Effects of Filler Loading and Different Preparation Methods on Properties of Cassava Starch/Natural Rubber Composites

Cassava starch-filled natural rubber (NR) composites were prepared by using direct blending and co-coagulation method. The effects of two different method and cassava starch loading on morphology, mechanical properties and thermal properties of cassava starch/NR composites were studied. X-ray diffraction results and scanning electron microscopy images proved that co-coagulation method promotes better dispersion of cassava starch than direct blending method. The composites prepared by co-coagulation method exhibited higher values of tensile strength, tear strength, hardness, and thermal stability. The optimum value of tensile strength and tear strength of cassava starch/NR composites were achieved at a 10 phr cassava starch loading.

Fatigue, Resilience, Hardness, and Swelling Behaviour of Natural Rubber/Recycled Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Rubber (Nr/Nbrr) Blends

In the present study, the fatigue, resilience, hardness, and swelling behaviour of natural rubber and recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NR/NBRr) blends were studied in the concentration range from 5 to 35 phr of recycled NBR. NBR gloves have excellent resistance to punctures, tear and many types of chemicals, while NR has good physical and mechanical properties. Blending NBRr into the rubber blends improved the processability, stiffness and resilience and conferred excellent oil resistance. The fatigue life of NR/NBRr blends decreased as the NBRr content increased, due to the incompatibility and poor dispersion of NBRr in the NR matrix. However, increasing NBRr content gave NR/NBRr blends better resistance towards swelling and hardness. Both properties increased due to the improvement in crosslink density when more NBRr was added, but the resilience properties exhibited an opposite trend. Scanning electron microscopy study indicated that the recycled NBR shows a coarser and poor dispersion in NR matrix particularly when more NBRr content was used, which leads to lower fatigue life of the NR/NBRr blends.

Hardness and swelling behaviour of epoxidized natural rubber/recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (ENR 50/NBRr) blends

This recent work is to investigate the hardness and swelling behaviour of epoxidized natural rubber/recycled acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (ENR 50/NBRr) blends. ENR 50/NBRr blends were prepared by two-roll mills with five different loading of NBRr from 5 to 35 phr. Results indicated that the hardness of ENR 50/NBRr blends increased as recycled NBR increased due to the improvement in crosslink density of the blends. Increasing NBRr content gives ENR 50/NBRr blends better resistance towards swelling. Higher degree of crosslinking will increase the swelling resistance and reduce the penetration of toluene into the blends. The presence of polar group in ENR 50 and NBRr give better hardness properties and swelling behaviour of the ENR 50/NBRr blends compared to the NR/NBRr blends.