Research Article Open Access

Physical and Mechanical Properties of Starch/Natural Rubber Biopolymer Blends

Author(s):

Uzoh Raymond Dominic

The effects of starch fillers on the physical and mechanical properties of starch/natural rubber blends were investigated with reference to carbon black filled natural rubber. Starch was extracted from three plant crops namely, amora, potato and yam and applied as fillers in natural rubber formulations. Starch/natural rubber (NR) blends were prepared by directly mixing and co-coagulating rubber latex and gelatinized starch by a coagulating agent via latex compounding method. There was improvement in tensile strength and elongation at break especially at 30 phr filler loading for all the starch/natural rubber blends in comparison with the carbon black filled natural rubber. Although the carbon black filled natural rubber at 30 phr gave the highest tensile strength (87.6 Mpa), it however ... view more»

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