Abstract
Organoclay (OC) filled natural rubber (NR) latex crepe was prepared in view of investigating the effect of organoclay on raw rubber properties and viscoelastic properties by incorporating aqueous dispersion of OC clay into NR latex followed by conventional acid coagulation procedure. Raw rubber properties of OC filled fractionated bleached (FB) and unfractionated unbleached (UFUB) crepe rubber were evaluated to characterized the composite samples in comparison to standard crepe rubber whilst process based characterization was carried out with Moony viscosity and Mooney relaxation data. Raw rubber properties have shown that OC acts as a pro-oxidant and as a result, Initial Plasticity (Po) and Plasticity Retention Index (PRI) which measures the thermo-oxidative degradation were negatively affected. Viscoelastic behaviour, as measured with low shear strain rate flow properties, is significantly affected by the addition of OC into the NR latex. Reduction of Mooney viscosity of OC filled crepe rubber has been explained with thermal oxidation as a result of metal impurities in the OC and plasticization caused by the organic modifier of the OC. Mooney stress relaxation has shown that lower clay loading provides a better processability and dispersion of OC within the crepe rubber.
Highlights
Natural Rubber (NR) obtained from Hevea brasiliensis is one of the most important engineering raw materials for different industrial applications
Raw rubber properties of organoclay filled crepe rubber Both organoclay filled fractionated bleached crepe rubber (OFBC) and organoclay filled un-fractionated unbleached crepe rubber (OUFUBC) samples were compared with the average raw rubber properties of the NR latex crepe rubber (Hand Book of Rubber Processing Technology, RRISL)
According to the results obtained for each raw rubber property, average raw rubber properties of the both samples are comply with standard specifications shown by Senevirathne et al, 2003 in Hand Book of Rubber Processing Technology, RRISL
Summary
Natural Rubber (NR) obtained from Hevea brasiliensis is one of the most important engineering raw materials for different industrial applications. In the manufacture of rubber products, reinforcing fillers are used to improve the physico-mechanical properties and to reduce the cost of the products. Reinforcing fillers such as carbon black and silica are widely used but carbon black causes environmental pollution (Alwis et al, 2014). To achieve a better reinforcement and processability, MMT clay should be exfoliated/delaminated with in the rubber matrix into individual platelets, a 1 nm thickness (Alwis et al, 2014). Preparation of MMT clay filled NR latex crepe rubber and its effect on properties have not been reported in the literature. The objective of the study reported here is to prepare organoclay (OC) filled latex crepe rubber with an optimum dispersion of organoclay and to investigate the effect of nanostructures of OC on raw rubber properties and viscoelastic properties of the crepe rubber
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