Properties of Rice Husk Ash Silica Filled Prevulcanized Deproteinized Natural Rubber Latex Film
Silica extracted from rice husk ash (RHA-Si) was incorporated in deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) latex compounds up to 20 phr. The cast films were prepared after the prevulcanization at 70°C for 2 hours. The effect of RHA-Si loading on swelling and tensile properties was investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine morphology of the prevulcanized films. Dynamic mechanical behaviors of filled prevulcanizates were studied using the dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA). Two types of tests, namely, temperature sweep and strain sweep test were performed. Swelling test revealed the decrease in crosslink density with increasing RHA-Si loading more than 10 phr. Tensile strength and elongation at break decreased with increasing RHA-Si loading. Conversely, the presence of RHA-Si increased the modulus at 100% strain of the prevulcanized DPNR latex films. The poor filler-rubber distribution was evidenced by SEM image. The DMA results exhibited that storage modulus (G′) and damping factor (tanδ) increased with increasing RHA-Si loading. The narrow linear viscoelastic (LVE) region was noticed for prevulcnizates filled with high RHA-Si content. Glass transition temperature (Tg) of highly filled DPNR shift to low temperature.