Abstract

Rizafizah Othaman^,*, Yeon Hui Yuan, Muntaz Abu Bakar

DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.13005/ojc/310211

Microsized aerogels were prepared from epoxidized natural rubber (ENR)/polyvinyl chloride (PVC) matrix blend using the solvent exchange method and dropping technique with sonication. Some parameters were manipulated in order to observe its effects on resultant aerogels. Parameter studied were ENR/PVC solution viscosity, ratio of ENR/PVC solution to EtOH/H₂O solution and sonication time.It was found that the best parameter to produce spherical microsized ENR/PVC aerogels with high water absorption capability was by using the ENR/PVC to THF ratio of 1:20, ENR/PVC solution to EtOH/H₂O solution of 1:4 and a sonication time of 3 minutes.

aerogels; sonication; voids; absorption

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