Title: Compressive properties of green rubber foam from reclaimed rubber glove

Authors: Noraiham Mohamad; Mazliah Mazlan; Jeefferie Abd Razak; Nur Sharafina Zainol; Amirul Asyraf Mat Nasir; Hairul Effendy Ab Maulod

Addresses: Carbon Research Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Carbon Research Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Carbon Research Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Carbon Research Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Carbon Research Technology, Advanced Manufacturing Centre, Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia ' Carbon Research Technology, Department of Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, 76100, Durian Tunggal, Melaka, Malaysia

Abstract: Nowadays, green materials are of interest due to the changes of government policies in many countries towards sustainable product development. In this study, green rubber foam from reclaimed rubber glove at various sodium bicarbonate content (4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 phr) as blowing agent was prepared via melt compounding technique and expanded via two-step heat transfer foaming process. Compression testing and water absorption were performed and the results were then supported with morphological analysis. The crosslink densities determined using Flory-Rhener equation indicated the value had slightly decreased with increasing blowing agent. The 4 phr sodium bicarbonate generated the smallest cells and the highest relative density foam of 0.9. The foam exhibited the lowest water absorption rate of 1.7 × 10 g/min as well as the highest compressive strength of 105 kPa. Increasing blowing agent evidently increased the cell size and decrease the compressive strength of the foam.

Keywords: rubber foam; reclaimed rubber gloves; blowing agents; sodium bicarbonate; cell structure; cell size; recycling; compressive strength; green materials; melt compounding; heat transfer foaming; compression testing; water absorption.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMPT.2016.079204

International Journal of Materials and Product Technology, 2016 Vol.53 No.3/4, pp.252 - 266

Received: 01 Mar 2016
Accepted: 11 May 2016

Published online: 22 Sep 2016 *

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