Reinforcement of prevulcanised natural rubber latex films by banana stem powder and comparison with silica and calcium carbonate

This study investigates the effect of incorporating banana stem powder,surface modified with 2% of sodium hypochlorite solution,as a reinforcing filler on the properties of natural rubber latex (nrl) compound and its films. increasing the banana stem powder loading did not affect much of the swelling index of the latex films but slightly increased the moduli [modulus at 100% (m 100) and 300% (m 300) elongations] of the latex films. tensile strength and elongation at break of the latex films showed some reduction with the increase in the banana stem powder loading. the tear strength of the nrl films containing the banana stem powder is higher than the tear strength of the unfilled prevulcanised nrl films. in comparison with other commercial fillers,calcium carbonate and colloidal silica,banana stem powder produced prevulcanised nrl films of comparable mechanical properties.