Open Access

ARTICLE

Green Natural Rubber Foam and Enhanced Physical Properties from Sugarcane Bagasse Ash

Pattaranun Thuadaij, Bualoy Chanpaka^*

Division of Chemistry (Materials Science), Faculty of Science, Buriram Rajabhat University, Buriram, 31000, Thailand

* Corresponding Author: Bualoy Chanpaka. Email:

Journal of Renewable Materials 2025, 13(4), 753-772. https://doi.org/10.32604/jrm.2025.057590

Received 21 August 2024; Accepted 14 February 2025; Issue published 21 April 2025

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) foams are widely used. However, further studies are required for preparing eco-friendly NR foam and determining the optimum physical properties appropriate for application. This study aims to create an NR foam from rubber reinforced with sugarcane bagasse ash (SCBA) and sodium alginate. The results showed that the SCBA was primarily composed of silica or silicon dioxide (87.52% by weight) and carbon (11.41% by weight). This study investigated the influence of the amount of sodium alginate (0–5 phr) used in the NR foam formation. The addition of SCBA on the NR foam affected the density, swelling behavior, and crosslink density of the foam. The results identified an optimal loading level that improved the density and morphology of the foam. The hardness and modulus of the NR foam increased with increasing amounts of SCBA, suggesting insufficient reinforcement. The NR exhibited the highest compressive stress at the SCBA concentration of 5 phr. This study facilitates the development of NR as green material and other support materials.

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Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material File

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