Effect of Lamination Layers on Tensile Properties and Mould Cleaning Efficiency of Laminated NBR Latex Composite

Mould cleaning process is the process of removal build-up deposited or residue material on the mould surface after repeated cycles of production. The currently used mould cleaning process is sand blasting (abrasive process) and dry rubber mould cleaning compounds (depends on the skill of the operators during rubber compounding). Latex laminated compounds will be beneficial as a new substitute for mould cleaning because of its excellent strength properties and the lamination process to increase its thickness. The main focus of this research is to investigate the effect of lamination process on mechanical properties and mould cleaning efficiency of laminated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) latex composites. Laminated NBR latex films with cleaning agent and waste latex compound was prepared by arranging half-cured latex sheets with various thicknesses of outer layer (NBR latex films with cleaning agent) and core layer (waste NBR latex film). The core and outer layers are prepared through casting method with different thickness. The laminated films were subjected to compression moulding using hot press at 120°C. Reinforcement of the core layer gives laminated latex composite with better mechanical properties, but excessive of core layer portion reduced the mechanical properties of laminated films. The efficiency of mould cleaning of laminated NBR latex films were depends on the flow ability and adhesion properties of the fresh latex layer with mould cleaning agent (outer layer).