Preparation and Characterization of Self-Healing Natural Rubber (NR) Based on Zinc Diacrylate Networks

Abstract:

Nowadays, the use of rubber products such as tyres, bearings, shoe soles, hoses, and cables are increasing due to its high strain to failure. However, the indestructible cross-linking of sulphur or peroxide chains in vulcanized rubber could complicate the biodegradation, reprocessing, and recycling of rubber products. Due to these crucial problems, the increasing number of rubber-based products worldwide will lead to environmental hazards. An alternative strategy to address this problem is to give elastomers the ability to self-heal, thus promoting their reusability. Zinc diacrylate (ZDA) salt was used as a self-healing agent in NR. The ionic interaction of the self-healing process between natural rubber (NR) and ZDA were investigated, and successful grafting was demonstrated by FTIR analysis. The results showed that NR with 10 phr of ZDA had the highest tensile strength and elongation at break, which was also proved by microscopic images. The image showed no visible gap between the fractured contact surface of NR indicating an efficient self-healing mechanism. Therefore, this study has proven the potential of ZDA as a self-healing agent to NR compound and is expected to pave the way for environmentally friendly rubber products.

• Periodical: Engineering Headway (Volume 15)
• Pages: 3-9
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-1EG0Qf
• Online since: January 2025
• Authors: Nurul Fatihah Binti Ismadi, Nurul Aizan Mohd Zaini*, Dalina Samsudin, Faiezah Hashim, Zainathul Akhmar Salim Binti Abdul Salim
• Keywords: Ionic Interaction Network, Natural Rubber, Self-Healing, Tensile Properties, Zinc-Diacrylate

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