Effect of modified bagasse fiber on mechanical properties of natural rubber

Abstract

This research purposes to increase the value of bagasse fiber (BG) that are waste from preparation of sugarcane juice by using BG as a filler in natural rubber. The surface of BG were modified with 5 % of chemical reagents ,namely, sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and bis[3-(triethoxysilyl)proply]tetrasulfide (TESPT). As a result from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique, SEM images showed both surface of BG and TESPT treated BG were similar whereas the surface of NaOH treated BG was roughness and showed smaller size of fibers than that of untreated BG. Using Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) technique, it was found that NaOH treated BG had no different function groups when compared with untreated BG. Obviously, FTIR peaks of TESPT treated BG illustrated TESPT characteristic functional group on those of surface. All of BG, i) untreated BG ii) NaOH and iii) TESPT treated BG, were used as filler in natural rubber with loading of 5 phr. Remarkably, tear strength of NR filled with NaOH and TESPT were evidently enhanced with 53.6 and 47.5%. Swelling resistance of NR filled with both treated BG were also improved with 11 %. Nevertheless, tensile strength was decreased with 33.6 and 77.3 % when NaOH and TESPT treated BG were incorporated into NR, respectively.