Properties of Recycled Natural Latex Gloves Filled NBR: Effects of Sawdust and trans Polyoctylene Rubber

The swelling behavior, crosslinking density and thermal stability of acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/recycled natural latex gloves (NBR/rNL-G) compounds at 20 phr of rNL-G with two different sizes were investigated. Furthermore, the effects of sawdust short fiber (SD) loading (5 and 20 phr) and trans-polyoctylene rubber (TOR) loading (2 and 6 phr) on the NBR/rNL-G compound were determined. Results show TG thermogram of NBR/rNL-G compound at 20 phr recycled content with fine size indicates better thermal stability, lower swelling percentage and higher crosslinking density compared to coarser size. The addition of SD 5 phr loading into NBR/rNL-G compound tends to improve the thermal stability of the rubber compound. While SD 20 phr loading shows lower swelling and higher crosslinkining density in the rubber compounds. The incorporation of TOR, particularly 6 phr as a compatibilizer develops the compatibility of NBR/rNL-G compound, which improved the overall properties of rubber compound.