Research on the effects of jute fibers filler content and surface treatment on the mechanical properties of natural rubber latex foam

Natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) filled with untreated and alkali/silane coupling agent-treated jute fibers (JFs) were prepared using the Dunlop method. The JFs fillers were added at 0,1, 3, and 5 phr. The density, crosslinking degree, and surface morphology of the untreated jute-filled NRLF were studied, and the tensile and compression properties of the untreated and surface-treated NRLF were compared. The results showed that the density, the modulus at 100% elongation (M100), and compression set of the untreated jute-filled NRLF increased with increasing JFs filler content. The crosslinking degree, tensile strength, elongation at break, and recovery rate decreased with increasing JFs filler content. Regarding mechanical properties, the surface-treated JFs-filled NRLF exhibited higher tensile strength and M100 than the untreated group, indicating that alkali/silane coupling agent treatment enhanced the interaction between JFs and the matrix. However, the elongation at break was lower. As for the compression set and recovery rate, there was no significant difference between the two groups, indicating that alkali/silane coupling agent treatment had little effect on the compression set and recovery rate of JFs-filled NRLF. KEYWORDS jute fibers, latex foam, mechanical properties, surface treatment Highlights * Natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) materials composited with jute fibers (JFs) were prepared using Dunlop method. * JFs were treated by coupling agent to enhance the interaction with matrix. * The treated JFs-filled NRLF exhibited higher tensile strength and M100.
1 | INTRODUCTION For a long time, porous rubber or natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) has been considered an economical material. Latex foam possesses several unique characteristics, such as its [...]