The effects of filler loading and size of kenaf fibre on the mechanical properties of kenaf fibre-filled natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) have been studied. The NRLF was prepared by using the Dunlop method. The kenaf fibre was sieved to 97, 144 and 200 µm particle sizes and incorporated into the rubber vulcanizates at 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 part per hundred rubber fibre contents. Increasing kenaf fibre loading in NRLF resulted in the reduction of tensile strength, elongation at break and recovery percentage but increased in modulus at 100% (M100), compression strength, compression set, hardness and foam density. At the same kenaf fibre loading, smaller size of kenaf fibre-filled NRLF showed higher tensile properties, compression strength, compression set and hardness. Scanning electron microscope demonstrated that as kenaf fibre loading and size increased, a larger pore size of NRLF was formed and this led to tensile strength, M100, compression strength and hardness.

中文翻译：

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填料含量和粒径对绿麻填充天然橡胶乳胶泡沫性能的影响

研究了填料负载和洋麻纤维尺寸对洋麻纤维填充天然橡胶乳胶泡沫 (NRLF) 机械性能的影响。NRLF 是通过使用 Dunlop 方法制备的。红麻纤维被筛分为 97、144 和 200 微米的粒径，并以每 100 份橡胶纤维含量 0、1、3、5 和 7 份的量加入到硫化橡胶中。NRLF 中洋麻纤维含量的增加导致拉伸强度、断裂伸长率和回复率降低，但 100% 时的模量 (M100)、压缩强度、压缩永久变形、硬度和泡沫密度增加。在相同的洋麻纤维含量下，较小尺寸的洋麻纤维填充NRLF表现出更高的拉伸性能、压缩强度、压缩永久变形和硬度。