A Study of Quality Improvement of Natural Rubber Products by Drying Methods
Affiliation(s)
1 Department of Chemical Engineering Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. 2 Department of Polymer Technology, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria.
1 Department of Chemical Engineering Technology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria. 2 Department of Polymer Technology, Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This experimental study was carried out to verify the quality enhancement of Natural Rubber Products by drying methods and ascertain to what extent the different methods of drying affected the properties exhibited. During this study, samples of natural rubber coagulum were obtained and a sample each was subjected to one of these three methods of drying: air, smoke and oven. The qualities of the dried rubber samples from the three methods of drying were then investigated. The criterion adopted for quality in this study was Plasticity Retention Index (PRI), which gave insight of the oxidative resistance of natural rubber, a measure of quality. The plasticity retention index was tested by using the Wallace plastimeter. The PRI values were calculated for the samples. Results obtained from this study showed that the qualities of natural rubber samples were actually influenced to different measurable extents depending on drying methods, as exhibited in the PRI levels. The results further gave basis for our conclusions that the smoke dried rubber samples had the poorest qualities, having the lowest values of PRI; followed by the oven and air dried samples respectively in terms of their PRI presented the best qualities, the highest PRI values.
This experimental study was carried out to verify the quality enhancement of Natural Rubber Products by drying methods and ascertain to what extent the different methods of drying affected the properties exhibited. During this study, samples of natural rubber coagulum were obtained and a sample each was subjected to one of these three methods of drying: air, smoke and oven. The qualities of the dried rubber samples from the three methods of drying were then investigated. The criterion adopted for quality in this study was Plasticity Retention Index (PRI), which gave insight of the oxidative resistance of natural rubber, a measure of quality. The plasticity retention index was tested by using the Wallace plastimeter. The PRI values were calculated for the samples. Results obtained from this study showed that the qualities of natural rubber samples were actually influenced to different measurable extents depending on drying methods, as exhibited in the PRI levels. The results further gave basis for our conclusions that the smoke dried rubber samples had the poorest qualities, having the lowest values of PRI; followed by the oven and air dried samples respectively in terms of their PRI presented the best qualities, the highest PRI values.
Cite this paper
Aguele, F. , Idiaghe, J. and Apugo-Nwosu, T. (2015) A Study of Quality Improvement of Natural Rubber Products by Drying Methods. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 3, 7-12. doi: 10.4236/msce.2015.311002.
Aguele, F. , Idiaghe, J. and Apugo-Nwosu, T. (2015) A Study of Quality Improvement of Natural Rubber Products by Drying Methods. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 3, 7-12. doi: 10.4236/msce.2015.311002.
References
[1] Asore, E.J. (2000) Introduction to Rubber Technology. Joseg Books, Benin. [2] Bhantnagar, M.S. (2004) A Textbook of Polymers: Chemistry and Technology of Polymers; (Processing and Applications), Vol. II. S Chand New Delhi. [3] Cain, M.E. (1974) Engineering Design with Natural Rubber. Malaysian Rubber Producers’ Research Association, Hertford. [4] Billmeyer, F.W. (1970) A Textbook of Polymer Science. John Wiley and Sons, New York. [5] Goetz, W.P. Encyclopaedia. Britannica (UK) Ltd., London. [6] Ediati, R. and Jajang, R.F. (2010) Mathematical Model of Smoking Time Temperature Effect on Ribbed Smoked Sheets Quality. International Journal of Mathematical, Computational, Physical, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 4, 282-286. [7] Siriwardena, S., Perera, K.K.C.K., Siriwardena, T.A.S. and Ranasinghe, J.A.D.S.S. (2010) A Small Scale Open Sun Dryer for Sheet Rubber Drying. Bulletin of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, 51, 42-48. [8] Fried, J.R. (2005) Polymer Science and Technology. Prentice Hall, India. [9] Phriyawirut, M., Limwongwatthananan, T., Kaemram, S. and Wiengkaew, S. (2013) Natural Rubber/Fluoro Elastomer Blends: Effect of Third Component on Cure Characteristics, Morphology, Mechaical Properties and Automotive Fuel Swelling. Open Journal of Polymer Chemistry, 3, 79-85.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojpchem.2013.34014 [10] Ranby, B. (1993) Basic Reactions in the Photodegradation of Some Important Polymers. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part A: Pure and Applied Chemistry, 30, 583-594. [11] Blow, C.M. (1971) Rubber Technology and Manufacture. Butterworth, London. [12] Kumar, A. and Gupta, R.K. (1998) Fundamentals of Polymers. International Edition. McGraw Hill, Singapore. [13] Nwanorh, K.O. and Enyiegbulam, M.E. (1998) Enhancement of Resistance to Oxidative Degradation of Natural Rubber through Latex Degradation. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 16, 170-175. [14] Katchy, E.M. (2000) Introduction to Rubber Technology. El’Demark, Enugu. [15] Calvert, K.O., Ed. (1982) Introduction to Polymer Lattices and their Applications. Applied Science Publishers, London. [16] Minka, N.S. and Ayo, J.O. (2013) Influence of Cold-Dry (Hammattan) Season on Colonic Temperature and the Development of Pulmonary Hypertension in Broiler Chickens and the Modulating Effect of Ascorbic Acid. Journal of Open Access Animal Physiology, 6, 1-11. [17] ASTM D3194-04 (2009) Standard Test Methods for Natural Rubber—Plasticity Retention Index (PRI).
[1] Asore, E.J. (2000) Introduction to Rubber Technology. Joseg Books, Benin. [2] Bhantnagar, M.S. (2004) A Textbook of Polymers: Chemistry and Technology of Polymers; (Processing and Applications), Vol. II. S Chand New Delhi. [3] Cain, M.E. (1974) Engineering Design with Natural Rubber. Malaysian Rubber Producers’ Research Association, Hertford. [4] Billmeyer, F.W. (1970) A Textbook of Polymer Science. John Wiley and Sons, New York. [5] Goetz, W.P. Encyclopaedia. Britannica (UK) Ltd., London. [6] Ediati, R. and Jajang, R.F. (2010) Mathematical Model of Smoking Time Temperature Effect on Ribbed Smoked Sheets Quality. International Journal of Mathematical, Computational, Physical, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 4, 282-286. [7] Siriwardena, S., Perera, K.K.C.K., Siriwardena, T.A.S. and Ranasinghe, J.A.D.S.S. (2010) A Small Scale Open Sun Dryer for Sheet Rubber Drying. Bulletin of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, 51, 42-48. [8] Fried, J.R. (2005) Polymer Science and Technology. Prentice Hall, India. [9] Phriyawirut, M., Limwongwatthananan, T., Kaemram, S. and Wiengkaew, S. (2013) Natural Rubber/Fluoro Elastomer Blends: Effect of Third Component on Cure Characteristics, Morphology, Mechaical Properties and Automotive Fuel Swelling. Open Journal of Polymer Chemistry, 3, 79-85.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojpchem.2013.34014 [10] Ranby, B. (1993) Basic Reactions in the Photodegradation of Some Important Polymers. Journal of Macromolecular Science, Part A: Pure and Applied Chemistry, 30, 583-594. [11] Blow, C.M. (1971) Rubber Technology and Manufacture. Butterworth, London. [12] Kumar, A. and Gupta, R.K. (1998) Fundamentals of Polymers. International Edition. McGraw Hill, Singapore. [13] Nwanorh, K.O. and Enyiegbulam, M.E. (1998) Enhancement of Resistance to Oxidative Degradation of Natural Rubber through Latex Degradation. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 16, 170-175. [14] Katchy, E.M. (2000) Introduction to Rubber Technology. El’Demark, Enugu. [15] Calvert, K.O., Ed. (1982) Introduction to Polymer Lattices and their Applications. Applied Science Publishers, London. [16] Minka, N.S. and Ayo, J.O. (2013) Influence of Cold-Dry (Hammattan) Season on Colonic Temperature and the Development of Pulmonary Hypertension in Broiler Chickens and the Modulating Effect of Ascorbic Acid. Journal of Open Access Animal Physiology, 6, 1-11. [17] ASTM D3194-04 (2009) Standard Test Methods for Natural Rubber—Plasticity Retention Index (PRI).