Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 22 No 5 (2018): 851 - 856

DOI: 10.17576/mjas-2018-2205-12

 

 

 

THE EFFECTS OF ZEOLITE ON MECHANICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NR/ENR MEMBRANES

 

(Kesan Zeolit pada Sifat Mekanikal dan Morfologi Membran NR/ENR)

 

Kritsada Phatcharasit¹* and Wirach Taweepreda²

 

¹ Department of Rubber and Polymer Engineering,

Faculty of Engineering, Thaksin University, 93110 Phatthalung, Thailand

² Department of Materials Science and Technology,

Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, 90110 Songkla, Thailand

 

*Corresponding author:  krit_off@hotmail.com

 

 

Received: 16 April 2017; Accepted: 7 March 2018

 

 

Abstract

The main focus of this research is on the organic-inorganic membranes. In this study, the effects of zeolite on natural rubber (NR)/epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) membranes properties were investigated. NR/ENR blends were combined with zeolite in various contents at 0-50 phr by the two-roll mill. The rubber compounds were produced by compression molding at 150 ºC to form membranes with thickness of not more than 0.4 mm. NR/ENR blends with zeolite were characterized according to cure characteristics, mechanical properties, swelling properties and scanning electron microscope (SEM). It was found that the mechanical properties of the blends increased with the addition of zeolite for 10 phr while the cure time (t_c90) increased with increasing zeolite content. Membranes swelling increased with increasing amount of zeolite (zeolite at 30 phr produced the best results). Meanwhile, the micrograph showed a surface filled with pores-like small holes with the addition of zeolite in the NR/ENR membranes.

 

Keywords:  natural rubber, epoxidized natural rubber, zeolite, membrane

 

Abstrak

Membran organik-bukan organik hibrid merupakan fokus utama dalam kajian ini. Kesan zeolit ke atas sifat-sifat getah asli (NR)/getah asli terepoksida(ENR) telah dikaji di dalam eksperimen ini. Campuran NR/ENR dengan zeolit dalam pelbagai kandungan pada 0-50 phr telah dijalankan oleh pengisar dua gulung. Sebatian getah asli tersebut telah dihasilkan melalui  pengacuan mampatan pada 150 ºC untuk membentuk membran pada ketebalan tidak melebihi 0.4 mm. Campuran NR/ENR dan zeolit ini telah dikaji berdasarkan beberapa aspek iaitu sifat-sifat perawatan, mekanikal, pembengkakan dan pengimbasan mikroskop elektron (SEM). Kajian ini mendapati bahawa sifat mekanikal campuran ini meningkat dengan pertambahan zeolit pada 10 phr manakala masa rawatan (t_c90) juga meningkat dengan peningkatan kandungan zeolit. Pembengkakan membran juga meningkat dengan peningkatan jumlah zeolit (zeolit pada 30 phr adalah yang terbaik). Mikrograf menunjukkan permukaan yang dipenuhi dengan lubang kecil seperti liang dengan pertambahan zeolit dalam NR/ENR membran.

 

Kata kunci:  getah asli, getah asli terepoksida, zeolit, membran

 

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