Fabrication of Rice Husk Ash/Natural Rubber Composite

Abstract

The preparation of rubber-based composite from agricultural by-product is the main trend to upgrade the performance of rubber and reduce the cost. In this work, the rice husk ash/natural rubber (RHA/NR) composites were prepared by latex mixing process using the RHA modified with rare earth coupling agent. The mechanical properties, dynamic mechanical properties, thermal stability and morphology of RHA/NR composites were analyzed by universal testing machine, dynamic mechanical analyzer, thermo gravimetric analyzer and scanning electron microscope. The results indicate that previous modification of RHA with rare earth coupling agent can improve the dispersion of RHA in NR matrix significantly and increase the interaction between RHA particles and NR matrix and thus upgrade the mechanical properties and anti-oxidative behaviors of RHA/NR composite. The RHA/NR composite of highest mechanical properties and anti-oxidative behaviors can be obtained with a RHA loading of 4 per hundred rubber.