MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ATTAPULGITE/NR COMPOSITES: EFFECT OF MIXING TIME VARIATION:

Nor Aina MN

Nor Aina MN

Abstract

MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ATTAPULGITE/NR COMPOSITES: EFFECT OF MIXING TIME VARIATION Nor Aina MN*, Nadras O, Hanafi I

School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Seri Ampangan, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

The development of composite material based on attapulgite clay (ATP) filler and natural rubber (NR) matrices were prepared by combination of melt mixing and latex compounding methods. 6 phr of attapulgite loading was fabricated using different time of mixing ranging from 30 minutes until 2 hours. Then, co- coagulating HA latex with attapulgite clay suspension through latex compounding method produced the masterbatch. The masterbatch was compounded with natural rubber by melt mixing method. The mechanical and morphological characteristics were investigated. From mechanical testing, M1 showed the highest value of tensile and tear strength. By comparing with M30 and M2, M1 shows high 300% tensile modulus and lower crosslink density. However, when the time of mixing was prolonged to 2 hours, the results for tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength were decreased. From field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) results, it revealed that M1 had good dispersion in the NR system. It is proved that the higher tensile strength was due to good dispersion of attapulgite clay in the NR matrix. It was also supported from crosslink density, which is lower than NR and in-situ 6 results. It showed the penetration of toluene solvent into rubber compound was restricted.

Keywords: natural rubber, attapulgite clay, latex compounding, time mixing