Abstract
The potential of naturally available oils as additives instead of processing aids and activators in carbon black filled natural rubber was investigated in this study. Physical properties and cure characteristics of the vulcanizates containing the natural oils were compared with those of the standard vulcanizate which was prepared using an aromatic oil. Soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil were selected as the natural oils and used at a fixed dose (5phr) in the compounding process as processing aids. The natural oils were incorporated in the compounding process, to examine their potential as activators and processing aids simultaneously. The results indicate that soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil are better alternative processing aids than petroleum based aromatic oils which have been reported to be carcinogenic. In addition, palm oil has the best heat resistance ability. Further, the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of the vulcanizate based on soybean oil suggest that it could be used as a co-activator for rubber compounding .
Highlights
Processing aids used in rubber compounding provide lubrication between rubber molecules and facilitate the processing of the polymer during milling and mixing
The results indicate that soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil are better alternative processing aids than petroleum based aromatic oils which have been reported to be carcinogenic
The cure characteristics and mechanical properties of the vulcanizate based on soybean oil suggest that it could be used as a co-activator for rubber compounding
Summary
Processing aids used in rubber compounding provide lubrication between rubber molecules and facilitate the processing of the polymer during milling and mixing They improve the physical properties of natural and synthetic rubber such as elasticity, flex life, low temperature performance, and aid in the dispersion of pigments resulting in improvement of tensile strength and abrasion resistance[1,2]. It has been reported that rice bran oil can replace aromatic oil, antioxidant and the fatty acid components of the sulphur vulcanization formula of natural rubber (NR) without much effect on the cure characteristics and physical properties of the vulcanizate[5] In the latter, the oils have been used as processing aids in NRpolychloroprene blends and it has been shown that they could replace aromatic oils[3,4]
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