STUDY OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF VULCANISATE BASED ON SRI-3 RUBBER AND BIOPOLYMER

This study investigates the mechanical properties of vulcanizates based onSRI-3 rubber with the addition of a natural biopolymer derived from grapeleaves. The aim of the research was to develop composite materials withimproved performance characteristics and enhanced environmental safety byutilizing renewable plant-based components. Various curing methods forSKI-3-based rubber compounds modified with the biopolymer wereexamined, including classical sulfur vulcanization. The results showed thatthe main vulcanization parameters — such as scorch time, tensile modulus,and total vulcanization time — remain comparable across the studiedsystems. The use of grape leaf as a modifier demonstrated that the resultingvulcanizates possess very high mechanical properties. The tensile strengthreaches 24 MPa, which is 1.5 times higher than that of standard SKI-3-basedrubber. The study also revealed that the residual elongation of the developedrubber is only 2%.