NR/precipitated silica/dodecanol composites: Torque, hardness and morphology behaviors

Abstract

Abstract The effects of dodecanol (DDC) incorporations on torque, hardness and morphology behaviors/properties of natural rubber (NR)/precipitated silica (PSi) composites were studied using a typical Semi EV. The NR was loaded with the PSi at a settled dose, thirty phr. The DDC is one type of fatty alcohols that is produced based on the oil of palm kernel. The DDC was incorporated toward the PSi-loaded NR systems/compounds with various doses from one to four 4.0 phr. Because of its roles as a co-curing and internal plasticizer, it was revealed that the DDC affected the torque, hardness and morphology properties of PSi-loaded NR systems. The DDC exhibited the enhancements in torque change and hardness, especially till a three phr of DDC dose. The study on morphology behavior confirmed that the three phr of DDC was the optimum dose in which the cracked surface of PSi-loaded NR system with a three phr of DDC displayed the tremendous line of matrix fracture and surface breaking. Based on the overall results, the DDC incorporations caused the PSi-loaded NR systems in a less hardness but a higher torque change.