Title: Effects of liquid epoxidised natural rubber on the torch ginger fibre reinforcement of natural rubber-polyethylene composites

Authors: Nur Khairul Nabila Kamaruddin; I. Abdullah; I. Ahmad

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia ' Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Chemical Sciences and Food Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract: Effects of liquid epoxidised natural rubber (LENR) as a compatibiliser between torch ginger fibre (TGF) and natural rubber (NR)/low linear density polyethylene (LLDPE) composite were studied by incorporation of 10% loading of TGF in matrix with different degree of LENR coating. Pre-treatment of TGF using 1% NaOH was done to expose more hydroxyl groups on TGF surface to enhance the LENR adhesion. The FTIR peak at 875 cm−1 for the TGF treated LENR indicated that epoxy groups was present on the TGF surface. The SEM micrograph showed the LENR coat on pre-treated TGF surface were fine and even. The tensile test were found to increase when TGF was treated with 1% NaOH followed by 5% LENR coating. SEM micrograph of the tensile fracture surface showed good interfacial interaction between matrix and filler particles when treated with 5% LENR compared to others indicates that LENR could be used as a compatibiliser in a thermoplastic natural rubber.

Keywords: liquid epoxidised natural rubber; ENR; natural fibres; torch ginger; fibre reinforced composites; polyethylene; thermoplastics; tensile fracture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMATEI.2014.059486

International Journal of Materials Engineering Innovation, 2014 Vol.5 No.1, pp.70 - 78

Published online: 17 May 2014 *

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