Effect of vulcanization temperature on curing characteristic, physical and mechanical properties of natural rubber/palygorskite composites

Abstract

This paper aims to determine the optimum vulcanization temperature on curing characteristic, mechanical and physical properties of natural rubber/palygorskite composites. Three variations of vulcanization temperature (140, 150 and 160°C) were conducted on the samples. Cation-exchanged method used to treat the palygorskite. Rheological measurements and mechanical testing (tear, tensile and fatique life) were conducted on the composites sample. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to reveal the dispersion of palygorskite in NR matrix. It was found that the scorch and cure time of NR/Palygorskite decrease with increasing of vulcanization temperature. The tensile strength and fatigue life was optimum at 140°C and slightly decreased with the increasing of vulcanization temperature. The SEM micrograph revealed the strength and weakness in the system. It can be concluded that the optimum properties of NR/Palygorskite composites were at 140°C of vulcanization temperature and most of the mechanical and physical properties were slightly decreased with the increasing of vulcanization temperature.