Curing Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Rattan Filled Natural Rubber Compounds
Rattan for its potential as a new type of filler was investigated in natural rubber (NR) compounds. Natural rubber (NR) compounds were prepared by the incorporation of rattan at different loadings into a natural rubber matrix with a laboratory size two roll mill. The effect of rattan loading as filler on curing characteristics, tensile properties, morphological properties using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and rubber–filler interaction of rattan filled natural rubber compound were studied in the filler loading range of 0 to 30 phr. The results indicate that the scorch time (ts2) and cure time (t90) shorten with increasing filler loading, whereas the maximum torque (MH) showed an increasing trend. As the filler loading increases, the tensile strength and elongation at break decreases whilst tensile modulus; stress at 100 % elongation and stress at 300 % elongation increased. The rubber filler interactions of the rubber compound decreased with increasing filler loading. SEM studies indicate that the increasing rattan loading weakens the rubber-rattan interactions.