Effect of Starch Fillers on the Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Rubber Biocomposite Materials

The results of the dynamic mechanical study of biocomposites filled with different amounts of potato starch and corn starch are discussed. The composites were obtained from rubber mixtures containing natural rubber (NR) as a main component. Plastification of NR and rubber mixture was achieved by using the rubber open mixing mill (friction ratio 1.08). The vulcanization process was realized with a hydraulic press under predetermined conditions (pressure ca. 5 MPa, temperature ca. 143 °C, and processing time of 7, 12, 17 min). Thermomechanical analysis (by DMTA) showed that the quantity of starch fillers had only a slight influence on the glass transition temperature of the produced vulcanizate materials.