Characterization and properties of rattan fibre/natural rubber biocomposites

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) composites were prepared by the incorporation of Rattan (Calamus Manan) fibre (RF) at filler loading range of 0-30 phr into a NR matrix with a laboratory size two roll mill. Degradation of rattan fibre filled natural rubber composites (NR/RF) is studied by conducting natural weathering and soil burial test as a function of 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AMEO) as coupling agent and partial replacement of RF with commercial fillers such as carbon black, mica and calcium carbonate. 1 phr of AMEO was added into the NR/RF composites, while, the RF/commercial filler ratio was fixed to 30 phr. The natural weathering and soil burial test were carried out in the outdoor exposed rack and garden soil respectively, for six months. Deterioration in the properties of NR/RF composites was observed for both soil buried and weathered composites which indicates that the composites had undergone biodegradation and photo-oxidative degradation process with respect to soil burial and natural weathering tests. The degradation of the composites was further confirmed by SEM and FTIR studies.