Ultrafine calcium carbonate-filled natural

rubber latex film: mechanical and post-

processing properties
• Makara Lay,
• Noramirah Hamran &
• Azura A. Rashid

Iranian Polymer Journal volume 28, pages849–858(2019)Cite this article

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Abstract
This study aims to improve the dispersion of treated calcium carbonate
(CaCO3) in natural rubber latex (NRL) films. Ball mill and ultrasonic
methods were used to break down the particle size of CaCO3, and the
combined effect of ball mill/ultrasonic and ultrasonic/ball mill methods
with their optimum processing times was applied to re-agglomerate and
further break down the particle size of CaCO3. The particle size and
dispersibility of treated CaCO3 were characterized by particle-size analysis,
transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Zeta-potential measurement.
The particle-size analysis and TEM results revealed that the particle size of
CaCO3 reduced down to 1.4 µm with less agglomeration using ultrasonic for
120 min and ball mill for 72 h. Zeta--potential measurement also indicated
that the ultrafine-treated CaCO3 with a broad particle-size distribution was
compatible with NRL particles. The treated CaCO3 loadings from 5 to
20 phr were filled in the NRL compounds. NRL/CaCO3compounds showed
decrease in viscosity and cross-link density, but increase in swelling index.
It was found that tensile strength, modulus at 100% elongation, elongation-
at-break, swelling index, and cross-link density of the films were improved
with addition of 10 phr of CaCO3. At 20 phr of filler loading, the increment
rate of tensile strength of NRL/CaCO3 films was 44% after leaching, and
their retention percentage was 62% after heat aging. Therefore, ultrafine
CaCO3-incorporated NRL can withstand under accelerated heat-aging
condition.
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