Recycled polyethylene terephthalate (R-PET) was utilized as a filler in natural rubber (SMR L) and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR 50) compounds. Results indicated that the maximum torque, scorch, and cure time of SMR L compounds increased with increasing R-PET loading, whereas ENR 50 compounds showed the decreasing trend in scorch and cure time. Increment in R-PET increased crosslink density and tensile modulus of both natural rubber compounds. Tensile strength, elongation at break, and fatigue life of both natural rubber compounds showed the decreased trend with increasing R-PET loading but ENR 50 showed the lower values than SMR L compounds. The thermal degradation was shifted to a higher temperature and the micrographs exhibited the detachment of R-PET and more agglomeration with increasing R-PET loading in both natural rubber compounds.
Blow, C.M. and Hepburn, C. ( 1982). Rubber Technology and Manufacture, 2nd edn, London, Butterworth Scientific , pp. 1-540.
2.
Ichazo, M.N., Hernàndez, M., Albano, C. and Gonzàlez, J. ( 2005). Natural Rubber Filled with Woodflour; Influence of Particle Size, In: Proceedings of the 8th Polymers for Advance Technologies International Symposium, Budapest, Hungary , 13-16 September.
3.
Osabohien, E. and Egboh, S.H.O. (2007). Cure Characteristics and Physico-Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber Filled with the Seed Shells of Cherry (Chrysophyllum albidum), J. Appl. Sci. Environ. Manage., 11: 43-48.
4.
Ismail, H., Arjulizan, R. and Azura, A.R. ( 2007). Study of Fatigue Life and Filler Interaction of Paper Sludge Filled Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR) and Maleated Natural Rubber , J. Polym. Environ., 15: 67-74.
5.
Zaini, M.J., Fuad, M.Y.A., Ismail, Z., Mansor, M.S. and Mustafah, J. ( 1996). The Effect of Filler Content and Size on the Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene/Oil Palm Wood Flour Composites, Polym. Int., 40: 51-55.
6.
Ahmad, M. ( 2008). On the Potential of Feldspar Sand for Recycled PET/SMR L Composites, J. Elastom. Plast., 40: 179-188.
7.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Staff, Curlee, T.R., Das, S. and Haber, S. ( 1991). Plastic Wastes: Management, Control, Recycling and Disposal , Pollution Technology Review No. 201, New York, William Andrew Publishing/Noyes.
8.
Global Statistics of R-PET. Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PET_bottle_recycling (accessed March 18, 2011).
9.
Choi, Y.W., Moon, D.J., Kim, Y.J., and Lachemi, M. ( 2009). Characteristics of Mortar and Concrete Containing Fine Aggregate Manufactured from Recycled Waste Polyethylene Terephthalate Bottles, Construct. Build. Mater., 23: 2829-2835.
10.
Burillo, G., Herrera-Franco, P., Vazquez, M., and Adem, E. ( 2002). Compatibilization of Recycled and Virgin PET with Radiation-oxidized HDPE, Radiat. Phys. Chem., 63: 241-244.
11.
Zhang, L., Wang, T. and Liu, P. ( 2008). Polyaniline-coated Halloysite Nanotubes via In-situ Chemical Polymerization, Appl. Surf. Sci., 255: 2091-2097.
12.
Pegoretti, A. , Kolarik, J., Peroni, C. and Migliaresi, C. (2004). Recycled Poly (ethylene terephthalate)/Layered Silicate Nanocomposites: Morphology and Tensile Mechanical Properties, Polymer, 45: 2751-2759.
13.
Pegoretti, A. and Penati, A. (2004). Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) and its Short Glass Fibres Composites: Effects of Hygrothermal Aging on the Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour, Polymer, 45: 7995-8004.
14.
Nabil, H., Ismail, H. and Azura, A.R. ( 2011). The Effect of Partial Replacement of Commercial Fillers by Recycled Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Powder on the Properties of Natural Rubber Composites, J. Vinyl. Addit. Technol, (In Press).
15.
Flory, P.J. and Rhener, J. (1943). Statistical Mechanics of Cross-linked Polymer Network II. Swelling, J. Chem. Phys. , 11: 521-526.
16.
Marzocca, A.J. (2007). Evaluation of Polymer-Solvent Interaction Parameter x for the System Cured Styrene Butadiene Rubber and Toluene, Eur. Polym. J., 43: 2682-2689.
17.
Sekkar, V., Narayanaswamy, K., Scariah, K.J., Nair, P.R., Sastri, K.S. and How, G.A. ( 2007). Evaluation by Various Experimental Approaches of the Crosslink Density of Urethane Networks based on Hydroxyl-terminated Polybutadiene , J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 103: 3129-3133.
18.
Nakason, C. , Kaesaman, A. and Eardrod, K. (2005). Cure and Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber-g-poly(methyl methacrylate)-Cassava Starch Compounds, Mater . Lett., 59: 4020-4025.
19.
Butler, J. and Freakley, P.K. ( 1992). Effect of Humidity and Water Content on Cure Behavior of Natural Rubber Accelerated Sulfur Compound, RubberChem. Technol., 65: 374-384.
20.
Gelling, I.R. and Morrison, N.J. (1985). Sulfur Vulcanization and Oxidative Aging of Epoxidized Natural Rubber, RubberChem. Technol., 58: 243-257.
21.
Parthasarathy, P., Igor, S., Spurling, T. and Kosior, E. (2005). Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Recycled PET and its Blends, In: Proceedings of ANTEC 2005 Plastics: Annual Technical Conference, Boston, Massachusetts, USA, 10 November.
22.
Sae-Oui, P., Sirisinha, C. and Hatthapanit , K. (2010). Properties of Natural Rubber Filled with Fine Acrylate Rubber Powder, J. Elastom. Plast., 42: 139-150.
23.
Fröhlich, J., Niedemeier, W. and Luginsland, H-D. (2005). The Effect of Filler-Filler and Filler-Elastomer Interaction on Rubber Reinforcement, Compos Part A-Appl . Sci. Manuf., 36: 449-460.
24.
Hashim, A.S. and Kohjiya, S. (1994). Curing of Epoxidized Natural Rubber with p-Phenylenediamine, J. Polym. Sci. Polym. Chem., 32: 1149-1157.
Ismail, H., Anuar, H. and Tsukahara, Y. ( 1999). Effect of Palm Oil Fatty Acid on Curing Characteristics, Reversion and Fatigue Life of Various Natural Rubber Compounds, Polym. Int., 48: 607-613.
27.
Poh, B.T. , Ismail, H., Quah, E.H. and Chin, P.L. (2001). Cure and Mechanical Properties of Filled SMR L/ENR 25 and SMR L/SBR Blends, J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 81: 47-52.
28.
Benjawan, C., Pattarapan, P. and Sirilux, P. ( 2009). In Situ Silica Reinforcement of Natural Rubber Solution , J. Sol-Gel Sci. Techn., 52: 219-227.
29.
Ismail, H., Nordin, R. and Noor, A.M. ( 2002). Cure Characteristics, Tensile Properties and Swelling Behavior of Recycled Rubber Powder-filled Natural Rubber Compounds, Polym . Test., 21: 568-569.
