APPLICATION OF BIOPOLYMER IN NATURAL RUBBER BLENDS

References: 14th International Multidisciplinary Scientific GeoConference SGEM 2014, www.sgem.org, SGEM2014 Conference Proceedings, ISBN 978-619-7105-20-9 / ISSN 1314-2704, June 19-25, 2014, Book 6, Vol. 1, 253-260 pp

ABSTRACT
Galactomannan-filled rubber blends were prepared, and the effect of galactomannan Locust Bean Gum (0 – 55 phr) and tenside sodium dodecyl sulfate (0, 3 phr) loading on natural rubber (NR) were investigated. Mechanical properties and hardness of Locust Bean Gum filled vulcanisates were measured before and after thermo-oxidative aging for 72 h at 100 °C. The results were compared with unfilled NR vulcanisates with and without sodium dodecyl sulfate. The results indicate that, overall, the scorch time (tS2), cure time (t90), tensile strength and elongation at break decrease with Locust Bean Gum loading, whereas an increment was observed in the maximum torque (Mmax) and hardness of filled rubber blends. Rubber-filler interaction was measured by FT-IR. The effect of galactomannan loading on thermal properties of NR blends was studied by TGA. Morphology of the tensile fractured surface of the vulcanisates was studied using by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM analysis confirmed filler agglomeration formation of NR blends as hydrophilic Locust Bean Gum loading was increased. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMA) results showed change in the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the rubber matrix upon addition of Locust Bean Gum.

Keywords: elastomeric blends, biopolymers, mechanical properties, natural rubber, curing characteristic