Properties of Natural Rubber with Molasses Carbon Powder Activated Using Microwave Radiation as a Filler

In this research, the preparation of carbon powder from molasses, a by-product of the sugar production process or agricultural wastes, was studied as filler in natural rubber. The carbon powder from molasses or molasses black (MB) was subsequently activated using 1:4 by weight (MB: KOH) using heating energy from microwave radiation and comparing with the electrically heating furnace. The result showed the surface area and total pore volume of MB activated by microwave radiation (MB KOH Wave) are clearly enhanced comparable with those activated using an electrically heating furnace. All of KOHactivated MB were used as filler in NR in the amount of 10 phr. It was found that MB KOH Wave filled NR obviously shows the improvement in cure characteristic, tensile properties, tear strength and swelling resistance of NR vulcanizate and is close with that of filled with carbon black (CB).