IJET 2024 Vol.16(4): 180-184
DOI: 10.7763/IJET.2024.V16.1278
Experimental Investigation of the Candelabra Tree’s Milky Latex Thermal and Mechanical Performance for Adhesive Application
Siphesihle S. Xulu 1,
Ronny T. Tebeta 1,
Daniel M. Madyira 1,
and
Harry M. Ngwangwa 2
1.
Department of Mechanical Engineering Science, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa
2.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, College of Science Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida, South Africa
Email: xulusiphesihle.SX@gmail.com (S.S.X.L.); ronnyt@uj.ac.za (R.T.T.); dmadyira@uj.ac.za (D.M.M.); Ngwanhm@unisa.ac.za (H.M.N.)
*Corresponding author
Manuscript received June 4, 2024; revised July 30, 2024; accepted August 27, 2024; published October 25, 2024.
Abstract—The growing demand for natural organic adhesives has attracted the attention of many researchers worldwide. This is due to their advantages over inorganic adhesives in terms of environmental impacts over a long period. This work is based on the investigation of the thermal and mechanical properties of the organic adhesive produced from the milky latex of the candelabra tree. The adhesive was produced according to the traditional African technique of heating/boiling at 180°C, 215°C, and 250°C to polymerize milky latex until it became sticky. The sticky latex produced at various temperatures was analyzed for thermal stability and bonding strength through Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and lap shear test respectively. The thermogravimetric results exhibit a 36% weight loss as the temperature increased from 28°C to 110°C at a rate of 10°C/min for raw latex. The thermal stability of the latex was achieved at temperatures between 110°C and roughly 260°C before decomposing at above 300°C due to roughly 85% weight loss. The same behavior was displayed by the latex processed at 180°C, 215°C, and 250°C. The lap shear results show that a bonding force of 147 N, 58 N, and 196 N are achieved in the latex polymerized at 180°C, 215°C, and 250°C respectively. Overall, the bonding strength of the produced adhesive improves with an increase in polymerizing temperature, however, limited to 300°C.
Keywords—bonding strength, candelabra tree, milky latex, organic adhesive, polymerization
Cite: Siphesihle S. Xulu, Ronny T. Tebeta, Daniel M. Madyira, and Harry M. Ngwangwa, "Experimental Investigation of the Candelabra Tree’s Milky Latex Thermal and Mechanical Performance for Adhesive Application,"
International Journal of Engineering and Technology, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 180-184, 2024.
Copyright © 2024 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
