The Foaming Characteristics and Physical Properties of Natural Rubber Foams: Effects of Carbon Black Content and Foaming Pressure

Joon-Hyung Kim; Kyo-Chang Choi; Jin-Min Yoon

Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol.12, No.5, 795-801, September, 2006

Joon-Hyung Kim, Kyo-Chang Choi^†, and Jin-Min Yoon

R&D Center, Hwa-Seung Rubber & Automotives, 147-1, Gyo-Dong, Yangsan Gyeongnam 626-210, Korea

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Natural rubber (NR) was foamed at different feeding ratios of carbon black and different foaming pressures. The cure characteristics were studied with respect to the carbon black content, and the effects of the foaming pressure and filler loading on the mechanical properties and morphologies of the foams were also investigated. With an increase of the filler loading, ML increased together with MH as a consequence of the initial rising viscosity and reinforcement resulting from carbon black. The values of ts2 and t90, however, increased with increasing carbon black content. The thickness of each of the struts formed inside the rubber matrix and the hardness both increased with increasing foaming pressure and carbon black content. The expansion ratio and micrographs of the foamed NRs supported the density characteristics. The tensile properties of the foamed NRs, such as their tensile strength, tear strength, and hardness, gradually increased with increased foaming pressure and carbon black content, while the elongation at break decreased.

Keywords:foaming pressure;cure characteristics;struts;expansion ratio

[References]

Bikales NM, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, N. M. Bikales, Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1965, pp. 82-85
Shutov FA, Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology, D. Klempner and V. Sendijarevic, Eds., Hanser, Cincinnati, 2004, 71-77
Lee ST, Ramesh NS, Polymeric Foams, S. T. Lee and N. S. Ramesh, Eds., CRC Press, New York, 2004, pp. 74-77
Joseph R, Handbook of Polymer Foams, D. Eaves, Ed., Rapra Technology, UK (2004)
Hofmann W, Rubber Technology Handbook, W. Hofmann, Ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1989, pp. 440-442
El Lawindy A, El-Kade KA, Mahmoud WE, Hassan HH, Polym. Int., 51, 601 (2002)
Uejyukkoku N, Nakatsu Y, U.S. Patent 5,786,406 (1996)
Ismail H, Suzaimah S, Polymer Testing, 19, 879 (2000)
Nakason C, Kaesamna A, Eardorod K, Mater. Lett., 59, 4020 (2005)
Kim HB, Lee CH, Choi JS, Park BJ, Lim ST, Choi HJ, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 11(5), 769 (2005)

[Referenced By]

[1] Bikales NM, Encyclopedia of Polymer Science and Technology, N. M. Bikales, Ed., John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1965, pp. 82-85

[2] Shutov FA, Polymeric Foams and Foam Technology, D. Klempner and V. Sendijarevic, Eds., Hanser, Cincinnati, 2004, 71-77

[3] Lee ST, Ramesh NS, Polymeric Foams, S. T. Lee and N. S. Ramesh, Eds., CRC Press, New York, 2004, pp. 74-77

[4] Joseph R, Handbook of Polymer Foams, D. Eaves, Ed., Rapra Technology, UK (2004)

[5] Hofmann W, Rubber Technology Handbook, W. Hofmann, Ed., Oxford University Press, New York, 1989, pp. 440-442

[6] El Lawindy A, El-Kade KA, Mahmoud WE, Hassan HH, Polym. Int., 51, 601 (2002)

[7] Uejyukkoku N, Nakatsu Y, U.S. Patent 5,786,406 (1996)

[8] Ismail H, Suzaimah S, Polymer Testing, 19, 879 (2000)

[9] Nakason C, Kaesamna A, Eardorod K, Mater. Lett., 59, 4020 (2005)

[10] Kim HB, Lee CH, Choi JS, Park BJ, Lim ST, Choi HJ, J. Ind. Eng. Chem., 11(5), 769 (2005)