Characterization and Application in Natural Rubber of Leaf and Its Extracted Products.

is a fast-growing tree in the legume family. Its leaf contains a significant amount of protein and is thus widely used as fodder for cattle. To broaden its application in the rubber field, the effects of leaf powder and its extracted products on the cure characteristics and mechanical properties of natural rubber were investigated.

Film and latex forms of silica-reinforced natural rubber composite vulcanized using electron beam irradiation.

A thorough study was undertaken of the synthesis of natural rubber-silica treated with bis-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl) tetrasulfane (NR/TSi) vulcanized using electron beam irradiation (EB) and sulfur by varying the EB dose. The surface treatment of silica was confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy images. Composites were cast and vulcanized in film and latex forms compared with sulfur vulcanization.