NATURAL RUBBER FLOORING GLOWING IN THE DARK

In this work, we studied the preparation of phosphorescent natural rubber (PNR) compounds from natural rubber (STR 5L). The internal mixer was used to blend the natural rubber and chemicals additives, the sequence of phosphor doping, and variations in the filler (calcium carbonate (CaCO3), silica (SiO2) and high styrene resin (HSR)), vulcanizing agent (DCP), antioxidant (BHT), and phosphor (SrAl2O4:Eu2+, Dy3+) were studied. Furthermore, the phosphorescence, mechanical, and morphology properties of phosphorescent natural rubber (PNR) compounds were investigated. We discovered that the intensity of the phosphorescence was proportional to the amount of phosphor, the optimal filler mass ratio was SiO2 to HSR (20:20 phr), BHT (1 phr), DCP (2 phr), and phosphor (20 phr). This resulted in maximum emission at 490 nm with a phosphorescence intensity of 292 a.u., tensile strength at 10.23 MPa, and hardness at 50.67 Shore A. As a result, indicating of the phosphorescent natural rubber compounds can pass the rubber flooring type tile with a hardness of 50 shore A according to Thai Industrial Standard 2377-2551 (TIS2377-2551).