Effect of Ground Rubber Powder on Properties of Natural Rubber

Ground rubber powder (GRP) with three different sizes was incorporated into nature rubber matrix with different loading. Cure characteristics, swelling behaviour, crosslink density, tensile fractured surface, and mechanical properties have been studied. Based on the cure characteristics, it is evident that the processability of the rubber compounds has not changed obviously with the different GRP loading. The introduction of GRP in virgin rubber leads to the increase in swelling degree and the decrease in crosslink density. Tensile strength, hardness and abrasion resistant deteriorate with the increase of GRP loading, but the tear resistance gets better. If the ground rubber particles are smaller, the properties are more similar to the virgin rubber. Because of the phase separation of the GRP and matrix, the properties get worse with the bigger ground rubber powder.