Designing resin-rubber sole compounds for use in local shoe manufacturing industry

Abstract

Natural rubber and Reclaimed rubber based resin- rubber soling sheets compounded with various cheap rubber ingredients were made and evaluated in this work for their use in local shoe manufacturing industry. In the experimental work, natural rubber and reclaimed rubber compounds formulated with different ingredients were prepared and moulded into sheets by compression moulding technique. The surfaces of the sheets were abraded and then crated with different flexible colour-paints. The painted (Coloured) sheets produced were then tested and evaluated for resin- rubber shoe sole sheets. The investigation reveals that the compounds containing the peptised natural rubber (SLR 20) and reclaimed rubber (DSI-Super fine grade) are found to be the most appropriate compounds for the production of resin-rubber soles in the local rubber industry.