Results and discussion
3.1. Morphology of 5phrCTS-ENR and CTS-t-ENR
The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) micrographs
of tensile-fractured surfaces of (a) 0phrCTS-t-ENR, (b)
5phrCTS-ENR, (c) 5phrCTS-t-ENR) and (d) 10phrCTS-t-ENR are
depicted Fig. 1. The role of acetic acid in stabilizing the dispersion of
CTS in the ENR matrices (Fig. 1a) is evidence by the fact that in its
absence CTS phased-out (Fig. 1b), whereas in its presence CTS was
immobilized in the rubber matrices (Fig. 1c and d). The drying
process at 60 C led to the formation of many large voids in the
rubber matrices attributed to the shrinkage of the well dispersed
micro-agglomerates of acidified CTS from its soft gel-like form.
These micro-agglomerates underwent breakage rather than pull
out indicating that surface modification improved the interfacial
adhesion between the CTS and the rubber matrices. Therefore, it is
necessary to dissolve completely or swell the CTS extensively