Open Access

ARTICLE

Preparation of Natural Rubber/Cloisite-Na⁺ nanocomposite in Latex Stage and its Characterization for Mould Application

by Nurul Hayati Yusof^1,*, Dazylah Darji¹, Tan Kim Song¹, Nghiem Thi Thuong²

1 Malaysian Rubber Board, Engineering and Technology Division, 47000, Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia.
2 School of Chemical Engineering, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, No 1 Dai co Viet, Hanoi, Vietnam.

* Corresponding Author: e-mail:

Journal of Polymer Materials 2022, 39(1-2), 151-166. https://doi.org/10.32381/JPM.2022.39.1-2.10

Abstract

In this work, a pure gum mould made of prevulcanized natural rubber/cloisite-Na⁺ nanocomposite (PVNR/CN) was prepared and characterized for ornament application. The suitable conditions to prepare PVNR/CN latex mixtures and the properties of the resulting PVNR/CN nanocomposites were investigated. The optimum CN concentration in the latex mixture was 1.0 phr, with the properties of 60 wt% total solid content, more than 600 sec mechanical stability time, lower than 350 cP Brookfield viscosity, and pH 10. The properties of PVNR/CN nanocomposite showed high strength, moderate hardness, and good thermal stability. The morphology by TEM showed well dispersion of CN particles in between the rubber dispersoid. The PVNR/CN nanocomposite as a mould was evaluated by shrinkage measurement. The presence of 1.0 phr CN in the PVNR/CN nanocomposite achieved the least shrinkage. The reproduced object using the PVNR/ CN nanocomposite as a mould showed complete fine details similar to the original object via visual observation.

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