Processing and Properties of Biobased Blends from Soy Meal and Natural Rubber

✍ Scribed by Qiangxian Wu; Susan Selke; Amar K. Mohanty

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 303 KB
• Volume: 292
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1438-7492
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.200700132

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Vulcanized blends from soy meal and natural rubber were successfully processed through semi‐pilot scale extrusion, roll milling and compression‐molding. Blends containing about 50 wt.‐% of soy meal are elastic and water resistant, compared with the brittle and hydrophilic soy meal. The natural rubber component was well embedded into the soy meal matrix, indicating the existence of an interaction between them. The glass transition temperature of the rubber component in the blends increased due to the existence of this interaction. Calcium sulfate, as a compatibilizer, was a physical cross‐linker to the proteins in the soy meal and in the rubber. The morphological analysis of the soy meal and natural rubber blend through scanning electron microscopy revealed a partial compatibility of the blend. The blends containing near 50 wt.‐% of inexpensive soy meal have potential for various applications.

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