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Epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) and a superabsorbent polymer composite (SAPC) along with other minor components were mechanically blended in an internal mixer (Brabender Plasticorder) at 40°C and 60 r/min rotor speed with 80% fill factor. The SAPC was synthesized by grafting polyacrylamide onto hydroxyethyl cellulose backbones and adding bentonite clay. The first water-swelling behavior was investigated with alternative epoxidation levels of the ENR. Water-swellable rubber (WSR) performed well in terms of water absorbency, and weight loss was achieved with 50 mole% epoxidation level, so this ENR was chosen for the rubber matrix from which WSR was prepared with various contents of SAPC (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr). The results indicated that SAPC loading positively affected water absorbency, which was resulted by increasing weight loss and loss of mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and elongation at break. However, the modulus increased with SAPC content. WSR formulated from ENR-50, SAPC, and other ingredients resulting in good water-swelling behaviors and modulus, while the tensile strength and elongation at break had opposition. SAPC was an important factor to control the overall WSR properties.

The influence of sepiolite loadings (1-10 phr) and sepiolite addition procedures (mill and latex mixing approaches) on properties improvement of natural rubber composites was investigated. The viscosity, curing behavior, and tensile test were used to assess the property changes whereas the rubber-filler interactions was confirmed by using stress relaxation, swelling, Mooney-Rivlin and rheological methods. It was found that the characteristics of rubber composites influenced by both mixing methods and filler contents. Comparing between two different mixing methods, the slower stress relaxation rate and less swelling capability were achieved from mill mixing technique. This method also lowered the strain where the upturn of stress was occurred as suggested by Mooney-Rivlin plot. The greater properties enhancement of composites was obtained from milling method because of the better rubber-filler interactions, probably as a result of the nature of filler used. The greatest tensile strength improvement was achieved at 1 phr sepiolite loading where the smallest damping characteristics (tan ????) indicating the highest elastic behavior were obtained as revealed by rheological measurements. The simplicity of production and shortened step of milling procedure would be more favorable than the latex mixing approach for fabrication sepiolite filled rubber composites.

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