Characterization of Cambodian natural rubber/common clay composites for shock absorption applications: Primary results

Abstract

Due to the excellent elastic properties and suitability for diverse applications, natural rubber (NR) has inspired several research studies. Some have showcased remarkable advancements in rubber performances by incorporating inorganic fillers such as clay. Nevertheless, very few studies have explored the origin of natural rubber from Cambodia. This work was conducted to understand the characteristics of the Cambodian natural rubber composites with common clay obtained from a local source. Five different natural rubber (TSR 10) compounds with different clay loadings of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 parts per hundred rubber (phr) were prepared. The compounds were analyzed for cure characteristics prior to the vulcanization by compression molding at 150 °C. The preliminary tests of raw natural rubber were carried out according to ISO standards. The clay was analyzed for particle size distributions and its mineral compositions analysis using X-ray Fluorescence showed silica content of more than 50%. Overall, the incorporation of clay up to 20 phr showed insignificant effects on the hardness and elongation at break, and also reduced the tensile and tear strength remarkably. However, clay addition at high loading showed a significant improvement on the crosslink density and thermal resistance of the composites.