Thermal Aging Effect on the Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Polypropylene/Virgin Acrylonitrile Butadiene Rubber/Sago Composites

Nurul Syazwani Othman; Ragunathan Santiagoo; Wan Azani Mustafa; Mustaffa Zainal; Azlinda Abdul Ghani; Adibah Mohd Anas

Authors

Nurul Syazwani Othman School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pusat Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
Ragunathan Santiagoo School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pusat Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
Wan Azani Mustafa Faculty of Engineering Technology, Kampus Sg. Chuchuh, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02100 Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia
Mustaffa Zainal School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pusat Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
Azlinda Abdul Ghani Faculty of Engineering Technology, Kampus Sg. Chuchuh, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02100 Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia
Adibah Mohd Anas School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pusat Jejawi 3, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

Keywords:

Thermal aging, sago starch, polypropylene, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber

Abstract

This work investigates the effect of thermal aging on mechanical and morphological properties of polypropylene (PP)/ virgin acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBRv)/sago (Sago) composites. PP/NBR matrices at different weight fraction of 100/0, 70/30and 40/60 with fix ratio of sago, were prepared by using a heated-two roll mill at 180 °C. For thermal aging test, dumbbell specimens were conditioned in an oven at 70 °C until 45 days. Mechanical and morphological properties of aged and unaged specimens were carried out by using Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), respectively. The results indicate that tensile strength and Young’s modulus of aging specimens were optimized at day 15th. A better growing surface was observed after aging process showing an enhancement interfacial adhesion between the sago starch fibres and PP/NBRv matrices.