Mechanical Properties Improvement in Silica-Filled Natural Rubber Composites Using Stearyl Alcohol
Abstract
Mechanical properties improvement in silica-filled natural rubber (NR) composites
through the use of stearyl alcohol (SA) was carried out. The SA was palm kernel oil based fatty
alcohol. The NR was filled by precipitated silica at a certain concentration (thirty parts per
hundred rubbers, phr). The SA-fatty alcohol was added into composites from 1.0 to 4.0 phr. Due
to its functions as a curative additive and internal plasticiser; the SA improved torque difference,
crosslink density and also tensile strength up to a 2.0 phr of addition. Morphology study proved
that a 2.0 phr of SA was the optimum addition where a fractured surface image of silica-filled
NR composite with 2.0 phr of SA exhibited the greatest surface roughness and matrix tearing
lines.