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Assessement of local sponge (luffa aegyptiaca) filled natural rubber vulcanizate

O.G.Tenebe, K.O.Eguare,M.D.Ayo, O.A.Abiodun, L.Ekwueme

The assessment of luffa aegytiaca as filler in natural rubber vulcanizates was carried out. Samples of luffa aegytiaca filler (LAF) were milled to fine powder sieved through a 50µm mesh and were used in compounding natural rubber. The characterization results present excellent values of pH, moisture content, ash content, loss on ignition, iodine value and bulk density. The mechanical properties of the luffa aegytiaca filler (LAF) filled vulcanizates present optimum tensile strength at 25phr before decreasing, modulus at 100%, abrasion resistance and hardness increases with filler loading while compression set, elongation at break and flex fatigue resistance decreases with filler loading.