Cure, mechanical and swelling characteristics of composites of neoprene rubber and starch from non-edible variety of dioscorea tuber.

This article focuses on the development and characterization of composites made from polychloroprene rubber (CR, also known as Neoprene rubber) reinforced with starch extracted from a non-edible variety of dioscorea tuber. The study evaluates the cure characteristics, mechanical properties, solvent resistance, swelling behavior, and biodegradability of these composites using three different vulcanizing systems, finding that starch addition improves tensile strength and reinforcement up to an optimal loading of 20 parts per hundred rubber (phr). Among the vulcanizing systems tested, the modified dicumyl peroxide (DCP) system yielded the best mechanical performance, while sulfur-cured samples exhibited the highest swelling coefficients. Soil burial tests demonstrated enhanced biodegradability with increased starch content, attributed to microbial activity facilitated by the natural biopolymer starch, suggesting potential environmental benefits and applications in products such as gasoline hoses, tire sidewalls, and seals.