Investigation of Epoxidized Palm Oils as Green Processing Aids and Activators in Rubber Composites

Epoxidized palm oil (EPO) is an environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and costeffective process aid. In this study, the replacement of EPO with aromatic oil (AO), modified distilled aromatic oil (TDAE) and unmodified palm oil (PO) in styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) was investigated. The volcanized properties, mechanical properties, abrasion resistance and thermogenic properties of the EPO blend were compared with standard samples containing aromatic oils. The rubber composites with EPO showed enhanced mechanical properties including modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break. This is ascribed to the improved dispersion of fillers in the rubber matrix and interaction between the filler and the polymer. Furthermore, EPO in the rubber matrix showed remarkable abrasion resistance, rebound resilience, and heat buildup at low loadings. EPO in a rubber composite presents feasibility as a renewable raw material that can serve as an alternative to petrochemical oils in various applications. This study opens a new avenue for high-performance elastomer composites for various engineering applications.