Curing Characteristics, Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Kenaf Fibre/Halloysite Nanotubes Hybrid-Filled Natural Rubber Compounds

Natural rubber compounds were prepared with different kenaf/HNT ratio loading i.e., 30/0, 20/10, 15/15, 10/20, 0/30 (phr/phr). The compounds were cured at 150 degrees C according to its t90. Curing characteristic, tensile properties, fatigue, rubber-filler interaction and morphological properties of the compounds were tested. Curing characteristics show that scorch time and cure time increased with increasing of HNT ratio loading while minimum and maximum torque decreased. When HNT ratio loading was increased, tensile strength and elongation at break and fatigue life increased while tensile modulus decreased. Swelling measurement and morphological study showed that better rubber-filler interaction was obtained with higher HNT ratio loading.