This paper shows the primary research results of the effect of the leather fibers on the vulcanization of natural rubber (NR). The fibers used in this research were prepared by grinding waste leather scraps of Vietnam shoe making company. Leather fibers (LFs) and natural latex rubber were mixed together at various rates by a stirring machine. | Journal of Science and Technology 55 (1B) (2017) 85–90 THE EFFECT OF LEATHER FIBERS ON VULCANIZATION BEHAVIOR OF NATURAL RUBBER Le Thuy Hang1, 2, Nguyen Pham Duy Linh3, Doan Anh Vu1, * 1 School of Textile – Leather and Fashion, Hanoi University of Science and Technology 1 Dai Co Viet Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hà Noi City, Vietnam 2 Faculty of Garment Technology and Fashion Design, Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, Yen Lich, Dan Tien, Khoai Chau, Hung Yen 2 Polymer Center, Hanoi University of Science of Technology 1 Dai Co Viet Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Ha Noi City, Vietnam * Email: vuanhdoan79@ Received: 30 December 2016; Accepted for publication: 3 March 2017 ABSTRACT This paper shows the primary research results of the effect of the leather fibers on the vulcanization of natural rubber (NR). The fibers used in this research were prepared by grinding waste leather scraps of Vietnam shoe making company. Leather fibers (LFs) and natural latex rubber were mixed together at various rates by a stirring machine. The obtained composites of natural rubber containing leather fibers were dried at pleasant condition prior to the analysis. Vulcanization behavior of the samples was clarified using a moving die rheometer. The vulcanization temperature as 120 °C is found to be the appropriate temperature for the NR/LFs composite. The increasing of minimum and maximum torque with the increasing of leather fiber content shows the improving in stiffness of natural rubber with the presence of leather fibers. Regarding to curing curves, 40 wt% promises to be the optimal leather fiber content to reinforce natural rubber. Keywords: natural rubber latex, leather fibers, vulcanization, rheometer. 1. INTRODUCTION Footwear production has been classified as one of the important industries in Vietnam and many developing countries. However, it is also considered as one of the highly polluting industries, because of the solid waste generated, both from .
