Influence of Modified Cassava Peel Waste (CPW) Loading on Tensile Properties of Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) Products

Cassava peel is one of agricultural waste that abundantly found in environment. One approach to manage this waste is to apply it as filler in natural rubber latex. In this work, the cassava peel waste (CPW) was powdered and dispersed in alkanolamide-water dispersion system to modify its surface. The amount of fillers used was 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 phr (part per hundred rubber) and loaded in natural rubber latex (NRL) formulation system. The products then were formed by dipping method after the NRL formulation was pre-vulcanized at 70°C. The observed parameter includes crosslink density, tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation at break. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to study the morphology of tensile fracture in NRL film. The results show that 10 phr loading of modified fillers increases the crosslink density, tensile strength, and tensile modulus but decreases the elongation at break. SEM study also reveals that higher filler loading above 10 phr will create the agglomeration in rubber matrix.