2.5phrCTS-t-ENR and 5phrCTS-t-ENR showed a uniformly
dispersed CTS in the ENR matrix. It is quite noticeable that CTS goes
through a breakage as shown in SEM Fig. 1 (c) rather than pull out
suggesting a good immobilization of the CTS which tally with our
tensile data. Where else the 10 phrCTS-t-ENR shows that the CTS
are aggregated causing agglomeration in the ENR matrix. Even the
CTS agglomerates at high loading but yet the CTS are not pulled out
indicating that the acetic acid used to partially dissolve CTS actually
plays a role in the immobilization of CTS in ENR matrix. Whereby,
the latex starts to coagulate quite fast due to the presence of acid
and it entraps the CTS preventing it from phasing out.
Percentage of elongation at break (Fig. 4) increases with the
increase in CTS content up to 2.5 phr. Beyond 2.5 phr of CTS loading
the formation of homogenous filler is tougher and therefore the
dispersion of CTS filler becomes less homogenous which leads to
poor interaction between matrix and filler. Besides that the CTS
reduces the molecular mobility of polymer chains also results in a