TY  - EJOU
AU  - Thuadaij, Pattaranun 
AU  - Chanpaka, Bualoy 

TI  - Green Natural Rubber Foam and Enhanced Physical Properties from Sugarcane Bagasse Ash
T2  - Journal of Renewable Materials

PY  - 2025
VL  - 13
IS  - 4
SN  - 2164-6341

AB  - 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.
KW  - Sugarcane bagasse ash; sodium alginate; natural rubber foam; mechanical properties; morphology

DO  - 10.32604/jrm.2025.057590