Abstract
The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of rubberwood sawdust (RWS) size and content as well as the ratio of natural rubber (NR)/high-density polyethylene (HDPE) blend on properties of RWS reinforced thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) composites. The addition of RWS about 30–50 wt% improved the modulus of the rupture and tensile strength of TPNR composites blending with NR/HDPE ratios of 60/40 and 50/50. TPNR composites reinforced with RWS 80 mesh yielded better tensile strength and modulus of rupture than the composites with RWS 40 mesh. The TPNR/RWS composites with larger HDPE content gave higher tensile, flexural, and Shore hardness properties and thermal stability as well as lower water absorption. The TPNR/RWS composites with larger plastic content were therefore suggested for applications requiring high performance of thermal, physical, and mechanical properties.
Highlights
A thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) is a material blended from a natural rubber (NR) and a thermoplastic, such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) [1, 2]
The study has revealed that the rubberwood sawdust (RWS) size and content as well as the ratio of NR/HDPE blends significantly affect the thermal, physical, and mechanical properties of the composites
The addition of RWS about 30–50 wt% improved the tensile strength and modulus of rupture (MOR) of the composites from the NR/HDPE blend of R60/P40 and R50/P50 ratios, while the modulus and Shore hardness increased with an addition of RWS in the TPNR composites due to a stiffer wood sawdust than the polymer matrix
Summary
A thermoplastic natural rubber (TPNR) is a material blended from a natural rubber (NR) and a thermoplastic, such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) [1, 2]. It shows velvety surfaces and intermediate properties between the NR and the plastic, which provides flexibility in shaping, great recyclability of scrap, and low production cost [3]. The addition of natural fiber (wood fiber or wood sawdust) as reinforcement can improve the performance of TPNR in the constructional and building applications. The natural fibers offer many advantages such as low cost, high toughness, lightweight, less abrasive on processing tools, and low energy consumption in manufacturing [6, 7]
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