Malays. J. Anal. Sci. Volume 29 Number 1 (2025): 1313

 

Research Article

 

Influence of blend ratio on cure characteristics and tensile properties of nitrile butadiene rubber/devulcanized nitrile butadiene rubber glove (NBR/d-NBRg) blends

 

Nadhirah Ahmad Zambala1, Siti Nur Liyana Mamauod1,2*, , Muhammad Ilham Mamauod3, Ahmad Zhafri Samsudin4, Noorfazila Amin5, Roslinda Fauzi1, and Noor Hidayah Pugot1,2

 

1Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), 40 000 Shah Alam, Selangor

2Centre of Chemical Synthesis and Polymer Technology (CCSPT), Institute of Science, Universiti Teknologi MARA, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor

3Department of Food Science, Faculty of Applied Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor.

4Bridge Fields Resources Sdn Bhd, No. 9-1, Jalan USJ10/1G, 47620 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

5Airelastic Industries Sdn Bhd, No.10, Jln Pelabuhan 6/KU6, Kawasan Perindustrian Sungai Puloh, Off Lorong Sungai Puloh, 41050 Klang, Selangor

 

*Corresponding author: nurliyana2219@uitm.edu.my

 

Received: 10 July 2024; Revised: 10 December 2024; Accepted: 14 December 2024; Published: 1 February 2025

 

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Polish companies experienced an annual growth of about 6% in disposable protective gloves (DPG) production from 2014 to 2019. However, in March 2020, production surged by 30% compared to the same month in 2019. The increased demand for nitrile gloves raised environmental concerns due to the disposal of used gloves. A promising solution to this issue is the devulcanization of used nitrile rubber gloves (NBRg), which can be converted into useful materials. This study investigates the effects of blending devulcanized Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (d-NBRg) with NBR in different ratios on curing and mechanical properties. The rubber blends were prepared using a two-roll mill. Results showed that increasing d-NBRg content in the blends led to higher values of minimum torque (ML), maximum torque (MH), and delta torque (ΔM), indicating increased rigidity and stiffness due to a higher crosslink density. The vulcanization process was also accelerated with higher d-NBRg content, reducing scorch time (ts2) and optimum cure time (t90). Additionally, tensile strength improved significantly with increased d-NBRg content, attributed to the higher crosslink density, while elongation at break (EB)decreased due to reduced polymer chain mobility. Modulus at 100% elongation (M100), hardness, and density all increased as d-NBRg content increased.

 

Keywords: devulcanized nitrile butadiene rubber, nitrile butadiene rubber, curing, mechanical properties

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