Oil palm wood flour reinforced epoxidized natural rubber composites: The effect of filler content and size

The effect of filler content and size on curing characteristics and mechanical properties of oil palm wood flour (OPWF) reinforced epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) composites has been studied. The cure (t(90)) and scorch times of all filler size decrease with increasing OPWF content. At any filler content, larger OPWF particle size show shorter t(90) and scorch time. The torque values increase with an increase in fibre content and OPWF with smallest particle size shows the highest torque. Increasing OPWF content in ENR compound resulted in reduction of tensile strength and elongation at break but increased tensile modulus, tear strength and hardness. Again, the composites filled with smaller OPWF size showed higher tensile strength, tensile modulus and tear strength. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.