A. R. Azura

Publications (2)2.63 Total impact

• Article: Thermoplastic Elastomer Composites of Palm Ash-Filled Ethylene Vinyl Acetate/Natural Rubber Blends: Effects of Palm Ash Loading and Size

  N. N. Najib, H. Ismail, A. R. Azura
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  ABSTRACT: Thermoplastic elastomer composites of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)/natural rubber (NR) blends filled with palm ash were prepared by melt-mixing using a Haake Rheomix Polydrive R600/610 at 120°C with rotor speed of 50 rpm for 10 minutes. Increase in palm ash loading in composites resulted in increase the value of stabilization toque, Young's modulus and swelling resistance of the composites, but decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break. Scanning electron microscope micrographs revealed that higher filler loading resulted in agglomeration of palm ash in the composites. When smaller particle size of palm ash was used, further improvement in tensile strength, elongation at break, swelling resistance and stabilization torque value were observed.
  Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering 10/2009; 48(10):1062-1069. · 1.28 Impact Factor
• Article: Study of Fatigue Life and Filler Interaction of Paper Sludge Filled Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR) and Maleated Natural Rubber (MNR) Composites

  H. Ismail, Arjulizan Rusli, A. R. Azura
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  ABSTRACT: An investigation on the effect of epoxidation and maleated natural rubber (MNR) on fatigue and rubber-filler interaction properties of paper sludge filled natural rubber composites was elucidated. Paper sludge loading was varied from 0 to 40phr and conventional vulcanisation system was used while compounding was carried out on a laboratory sized two roll mill. Two different types of natural rubber, SMR L and ENR 50 having 0 and 50mole% of epoxidation were used in order to investigate the effect of epoxidation on the composites. Results indicate that, at a fixed filler loading, ENR 50 vulcanizates exhibit higher fatigue life than SMR L vulcanizates especially at filler loading below 20phr which might be associated with better rubber-filler interaction. In the case of composites with the addition of maleated natural rubber (MNR), a higher fatigue life was observed due to presence of physical and/or chemical linkages, which increases the interfacial adhesion. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs of fatigue fracture surfaces and rubber-filler interaction study supported the observed result on fatigue life.
  Journal of Polymers and the Environment 12/2006; 15(1):67-74. · 1.35 Impact Factor