SMR PROCESSING AND TESTING

(PST162)

1) NUR FAZIANIE BINTI MOHAMAD SHOKRI (2022679674)

2) ANIS SHAHIRAH BINTI RUSTAM IZAM (2022603342)
NAME 3) NUR AINI NABILAH BINTI AZMAN (2022457296)
4) NURIN FALIHAH WAFIQAH BINTI MOHD NADZLIE
(2022823312)
EXPERIMENT : HOMOGENIZATION OF TEST PIECES

DATE OF SUBMISSION :

GROUP : AS1132B

PROGRAMME : DILPOMA TECHNOLOGY POLIMER (AS113)

LAB INSTRUCTOR : Mdm. Siti Noorashikin Jamal

Checked by: Rechecked by:

……………………………………………… ………………………………………………

Date : Date:
EXPERIMENT 3: DETERMINATION OF VOLATILE MATTER

INTRODUCTION

The effectiveness of the drying process is crucial to produce raw natural rubber
products including smoked sheets (RSS), pancake rubber and technically specified rubber
(TSR). The milled rubber coagulum is dried by either using a hot air stream or a smoke
house to remove about 20% of its weight in moisture up until all traces of wet patches are
eliminated from the surface. However, it has been shown in the past that natural rubber,
because of its hygroscopic nature, continues to absorb moisture from the surrounding damp
atmosphere even after it has completely dried. The presence of polar non-rubber impurities
like proteins and lipids, which are environmental contaminants, is crucial to the mechanism
of drying wet rubber as well as its hygroscopic character. Due to these drawbacks and the
requirement for strict and consistent quality standards, a universally recognised standard
moisture level for all TSR rubbers produced for export has been established. Technically
known as the volatile matter level, this criterion is set at less than 1.0% as given to the
consumer. Due to the hygroscopic nature of natural rubber, a maximum volatile matter level
of 0.5% must be met after the rubber producers' drying process since they must allow for a
moisture pick-up of 0.5% during transportation. Therefore, latex grades of TSR with moisture
contents higher than 0.5% are not suitable for export. Calculations are made based on the
sample's weight reduction. Therefore, this precise method of determining takes about 4-5
hours.

OBJECTIVE

To familiarize the volatile matter determination test procedure

To determine the volatile matter content of a rubber sample

CHEMICALS &MATERIALS

1. Homogenised rubber (SMR grades)

APPARATUS

1. Laboratory mill
2. Analytical balance
3. Aluminium trays – 250 x 200 mm (10 x 8 in).
4. Clips to seal bags
5. Drying oven

PROCEDURES

About 30 g of the homogenized rubber piece cutted and wrapped airtight in a

polythene bag. Then it is cooled for approximately half an hour in the air-conditioned
balance room. The 30 g portion removed from the polythene bag, a test portion
cutted in one piece weighed approximately 10 g to 11 g. Weigh immediately to the
nearest 0.1 mg. The test portion passed once through a cold laboratory mill with a
nip setting at 0.5 ± 0.05 mm at even roll speed. Ensure returning to the test portion
any pieces which may fall off. Six such test portions placed on one aluminium tray.
The trays stacked one above the other and placed in the oven at 100°C ± 3°C for 4
hours. At the end of the drying period, the oven door opened, a tray removed and
the oven door closed immediately. Each test portion inserted in a polythene bag, the
open top end of which is folded lengthwise at least three times and breadthwise once
after which it is clipped and hung on the rack. This procedure is repeated, the trays
being taken out one at a time until the entire test portion are individually bagged. The
test portions allowed to cool for about half an hour in an air- conditioned room.
Thereafter, each test portion removed from the bag and weigh to the nearest 0.1 mg.
DISCUSSIONS

The process of determining volatile matter involves the measurement of the quantity
of volatile matter released from a substance when heat is applied under regulated
conditions. This is a frequently used method in the assessment of organic
compounds, coal, and biomass. An array of methods can be employed to determine
volatile matter, such as the technique that involves heating a sample of the material
in a sealed container at a constant temperature over time. Following the release of
the volatile matter, its quantity is measured and expressed as a percentage of the
total sample's weight. There are other methods as well, such as the crucible method
that involves heating the sample in a crucible until all of the volatile matter is
released or thermogravimetric analysis that uses specific devices to measure the
weight reduction of the sample as it is heated.The determination of volatile matter
plays a crucial role in several domains, providing vital information about the
characteristics and composition of materials.In conclusion, the determination of
volatile matter is an essential analytical technique widely applied across industries
and research fields to gain insights into the properties of various materials.
CONCLUSION

In the explicit sense, the main objective of this experiment is to familiarize the volatile matter
determination test procedure and to determine the volatile matter content of a rubber
sample. The objectives for this experiment were achieved successfully and has been carried
out and problems identified as well as according the established procedures.

REFERENCES

1. https://www.studocu.com/my/search/EXPERIMENT%20PST%20162

2. https://www.celignis.com/analyte.php?value=24#:~:text=Volatile%20matter%20is
%20determined%20as,with%20air%20under%20standardised%20conditions.

3. https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/documents/method_24.pdf