Structure and properties of natural rubber filled with epoxidised natural rubber modified rice husk ash

The rice husk ash/natural rubber composite was prepared with rice husk ash modified with epoxidised natural rubber latex by blending with natural rubber latex. The morphologies, thermal stability and mechanical properties were analysed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis showed that the epoxidised natural rubber has been grafted onto the surface of rice husk ash. The dispersion of rice husk ash particle in natural rubber matrix could be improved by the modification of rice husk ash with epoxidised natural rubber latex and thus increase the thermal stability and mechanical properties of the composite. When the modified rice husk ash loading was 6%, the initial weight loss temperature and final temperature of the composite were increased by 5 and 6°C respectively, and the tensile strength is 9 MPa higher as compared to the composite obtained from unmodified rice husk ash.