Effects of Modified Liquid Natural Rubber in Black Rice Husk Ash Filled Natural Rubber Compound

Abstract

The reinforcement of natural rubber by using black rice husk ash (BRHA) was investigated. The compound studied was prepared by mixing raw BRHA and treated BRHA. It was found that 10 phr of untreated BRHA showed the best mechanical properties. There are limits to the amount of BHRA which may be due to the increase in incompatible silica. The surface treatment of the BRHA was prepared by using two different reagents, i.e., silane and liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR). It should be noted that pre-vulcanized LENR/BRHA proved to be a stronger reagent than silane. It can be postulated that upon improved compatibility between polar silica and non-polar NR, double bonds of LENR could be co-vulcanized with NR matrix.
Keywords: Rubber compound, rice husk ash, coupling agent, reinforcing filler