Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Palm Based Fly Ash Reinforced Dynamically Vulcanized Natural Rubber/Polypropylene Blends

Palm based fly ash (PFA) is a solid waste of palm oil processing industry which contains silica components. These components are typically used to improve the mechanical properties of rubber-based products. This research aims to study the effect of the PFA as a filler on the morphology and properties of thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) based on a mixture of natural rubber (NR) and polypropylene (PP). TPV samples were prepared using the internal mixer at a mass ratio of NR/PP 70/30. Maleated polypropylene (MA-g-PP) 5% mass was added as a compatibilizer, filler content was varied from 15 to 45 per hundred rubber (phr). Paraffin and palm oil were added as a plasticizer with contents of 5 to 50 phr. Other additives include ZnO 5 phr, stearic acid 2 phr, trimethylquinone 1 phr, mercaptodibenzo-thiozyldisulfide 0.6 phr and 3 phr sulfur. The results showed that the use of PFA provides good tensile strength properties, a relatively homogeneous morphology, and low water absorption rate. The use of paraffin plasticizer produces a higher tensile strength compared to palm oil, but the elongation at break which produced the contrary. The best morphology and tensile properties of TPV (NR/PP 70/30) are on PFA and paraffin contents of 30 phr and 25 phr, respectively. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.