Dynamic Mechanical Properties and Tensile Behavior of Oil Palm Ash Filled Natural Rubber Vulcanizates

Abstract

The potential of utilizing low cost filler, i.e. oil palm ash (OPA) as a new filler in natural rubber (NR) compounds using conventional laboratory-sized two roll mills. The NR compound was cross-linked using sulphuric system. The variations of tensile and dynamic properties were examined in the NR vulcanizates with the OPA filling at low loading. In the view of reinforcement, the tensile strength and elongation at break was improved with the low loading of OPA (<10 phr). Dynamic mechanical properties of OPA filled NR vulcanizates was investigated with respect to the storage modulus and mechanical loss factor (Tan δ). Result showed that the storage modulus of the OPA filled NR vulcanizates became higher than that of gum NR vulcanizates whereas the peak height of tan δmax was reduced as the OPA loading was increased. This phenomenon manifested a strong rubber-filler interaction with the low loading of OPA.