THE PRELIMINARY STUDY ON CURE CHARACTERISTICS ON STANDARD MALAYSIAN RUBBER 10 (SMR 10) FILLED COGON GRASS FIBER

Nor Mazlina Abdul Wahab, Muhammad Faris Bukhari, Mohd Syamaizar Mustafa, Noor Aishatun Majid, Dalina Samsudin, Zuliahani Ahmad and Sharifah Nafisah Syed Ismail

Keywords: Cure characteristics, cure time, scorch time, rubber, imperata cylinrica (L.) beauv.

Abstract: In rubber processing, cure characteristics viz scorch time (Ts₂) and cure time (Tc₉₀) is very crucial characteristics that need stringent control because it will influence the prosessability and productivity. Manufacturers looking for high rate of productivity, with low cost of materials that to be incorporated with rubber to obtain desired properties either in processing or in performance of finish article. This study aim to evaluate the effect of using sustainable green resources of cogon grass fiber (CGF) as a filler in SMR 10 compound on its cure characteristics. CGF is an agricultural waste, which come from the family imperata cylindrica (L.) P. Beauv usually has been burned by farmers to clean their land. Hence, this study embark on utilisation of this waste material as a potential filler in rubber compound, to substitute the conventional filler used nowdays. Different amount of fiber which has been treated with NaOH i.e 0, 10, 20 and 30 phr was incorporated in SMR 10 during compounding by using two roll-mill. Semi-efficient vulcanization (semi-EV) system was used to cure the rubber compound at 150°C by using Rheometer Hung Ta HT-M2000. The results shows that there are no remarkable changes on the cure characteristics of rubber compound as increased in CGF loading. At highest amount of CGF, both of Ts₂ and Tc₉₀ of SMR 10 compound is comparable with controll sample (compound without CGF). Means, by incorporation of this filler, the processing time of the rubber is not affected, where as cheaper compound can be obtained.