ANALYSIS OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF NATURAL RUBBER COMPONENTS WITH A MIXTURE OF ABKS-TiO2 WITH PEG-6000

Abstract

Research has been conducted on the mixing of Oil Palm Boiler Ash (ABKS) and Titanium Dioxide (TiO₂) as a filler for rubber compounds to improve the mechanical properties of rubber compounds which include tensile strength, elongation at break, modulus of elasticity, hardness and swelling tests. The filler used to make rubber compounds is ABKS nanoparticles and TiO₂ with variations in composition (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) % by weight. The manufacture of rubber compounds is done by grinding SIR-20 rubber and then mixing it with chemicals, ABKS nanoparticles and TiO₂ in an open mill. After that, the rubber was moulded with a size of 15 cm long x 15 cm wide x 0.18 cm thick at 45^o C according to SNI 18 - 6478 - 2000 standard. The best composition of the mechanical properties of rubber compounds using ABKS-TiO₂ fillers for tensile tests obtained tensile strength values at 6% filler composition which is 2.3 Mpa. Elongation at break with the composition of 4, 6 and 8% filler material is 90%. The hardness test obtained the hardness value in the composition of 8% filler material is 57 Shore A. As a result of the compound swelling test, the development value of the 4% filler composition compound was obtained, which experienced a development of 98.73% for 72 hours.