Effect of Aging on Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Latex Products Filled with Alkanolamide-Modified Cassava Peel Waste Powder (CPWP)

Abstract

The effect of aging on mechanical properties of natural rubber latex (NRL) products filled with alkanolamide-modified cassava peel waste powder (CPWP) was studied. CPWP used as fillers was prepared by milling and sieving it until the size of 100 mesh. The powder then was dispersed in a suspension containing water and alkanolamide in order to modify the prepared powders. The dispersion system of 10 pphr (part per hundred rubber) then was added into NRL matrix followed by pre-vulcanization at 70°C for 10 minutes. The NRL compound then were casted into films by coagulant dipping method then dried at 120°C for 10 minutes. Afterwards, the films were allowed to cool at room temperature for 24 hours before being aged in a circulation of hot air for 24 hours at 70°C. The properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, and elongation at break were evaluated between the aged samples and the unaged samples. From this study, it showed that the aged films have increasing value of tensile strength and tensile modulus while the value of elongation at break decreases. These datas are supported by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs which indicate that the change of morphology in NRL films occurs before and after aging.