Study on natural oils as alternative processing aids and activators in carbon black filled natural rubber

The potential of naturally available oils as additives instead of processing aids and activators in carbon black filled natural rubber was investigated in this study. Physical properties and cure characteristics of the vulcanizates containing the natural oils were compared with those of the standard vulcanizate which was prepared using an aromatic oil. Soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil were selected as the natural oils and used at a fixed dose (5phr) in the compounding process as processing aids. The natural oils were incorporated in the compounding process, to examine their potential as activators and processing aids simultaneously. The results indicate that soybean oil, palm oil and sunflower oil are better alternative processing aids than petroleum based aromatic oils which have been reported to be carcinogenic. In addition, palm oil has the best heat resistance ability. Further, the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of the vulcanizate based on soybean oil suggest that it could be used as a co-activator for rubber compounding.

Keywords: Mechanical properties, processing aid, rubber, vegetable oils, vulcanization.

doi :10.4038/jnsfsr.v37i3.1212

J.Natn.Sci.Foundation Sri Lanka 2009 37 (3):187-193