Use coconut flakes as reinforced fiber of natural rubber plate products

Abstract

This research aims to study the properties of natural rubber STR 20 at 100 phr with various contents of coir (e.g. 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 phr) and then mixed with chemical substance at constant ratio. After that, the samples are ground by two-roll mill and formed by compression molding at 150 degree Celsius. This leads into the coir reinforcement natural rubber plate of dimension 30x30x0.5 cm. The properties of the natural rubber plates are tested under ASTM standard. From the results, it is found that increasing in coir then the properties of resilience and density are improved at every mix ratio. However the tensile strength, tear strength and wearing are increased at some certain value of coir. The samples give no water absorption at every mix ratio. The results from this research indicate that it can develop into the rubber floor tiles and rubber wall tiles for furnishing the buildings in natural style.