• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.1775-1781
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• 2008

The effects of the type of curing agent on the swelling of the natural rubber(NR) sponge applicable to the self-sealing layer of a helicopter fuel tank were investigated. The curing systems employed were peroxide and mixed ones of sulfur and peroxide. The NR compounds were prepared in a kneader and a roll-mill. The compounds were partially cured in a press at high pressure and subsequently cured fully with expansion in another press at atmospheric pressure. The apparent density of the NR sponge was measured and the cell structure was observed with scanning electron microscopy. The swelling experiments were performed at room temperature using toluene, iso-octane, and an aircraft fuel as a solvent. More rapid volume swelling of the NR sponge cured by peroxide was achieved than cured by sulfur and peroxide with similar amount of curing agent added in rubber compounds. The apparent density and cell structure of the sponge were extremely sensitive to the amount of peroxide, which influences again the swelling behavior of the NR sponge. It is important to control properly two reactions of decomposition of foaming agent and crosslinking of NR in the mold to obtain rapid swelling of the NR sponge on contact of the fuel.