Optimization of O-ring formulation containing of natural rubber on swelling behavior

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) is a significant economic plant of Thailand whose industry comprises of various sectors. It shows good elastic properties. On the other hand, it swells significantly when immersed in organic solvents such as benzene, gasohol. Elastomer blend are being used widely in the rubber industry to produce the new material. The blending of different polymer gives the new materials with properties that can't be achieved from the individual components. The optimization of formulation of natural rubber/chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber (CSM) blend in order to produce the polymer material (rubber O-ring) which showed the gasohol resistance by using natural zeolite as filler and natural zeolite as compatibilizer was investigated. The results indicated that the lowest percentage of swelling was 5.13% with the conditions as following: ratio of NR/CSM blend 30/70, natural zeolite composition 60 phr and ENR-50 composition 5 phr. NR/CSM blend with natural zeolite as filler and ENR-50 as compatiblizer is an attractive formulation for produce the polymer material (rubber Oring) which showed the gasohol resistance. © 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved.