Abstract:
Research on using rubber for creative industrial product design is a multidisciplinary research process. The objectives are 1) to study and analyze factors in the development of the utilization process of para rubber, 2) to improve and develop raw materials from para rubber suitable for processing rubber products, 3) to apply to the design of creative industrial products from rubber latex, 4) to evaluate the efficiency of using creative industrial products. Additionally, utilizing locally accessible natural fibers can enhance the mechanical qualities of rubber, which is directly related to the manufacturing of rubber products. The sample group was divided into four groups: rubber plantation farmers, entrepreneurs in processing rubber products, experts in materials and rubber, and experts in product design using a purposive sampling method with an interview form, a survey, and a questionnaire. Information obtained from data collection and analysis according to the conceptual framework to develop the latex rubber processing method and investigation. After that, design sketches and analyze the theoretical weights for analysis using an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) to select the suitability of product design to make a prototype and measure the efficiency of product usage.
The results of the study of factors from agriculture, industry and science and technology found that can improve the process of processing natural rubber from farmers' products to be used in small and medium-sized industries can be to the production of the final product. Improving latex rubber properties by creaming process, that farmers and communities can use in the primary processing.
The research results on improving natural rubber raw materials by the creaming method showed that the concentrated latex rubber obtained from the POCMC formula had a dry rubber content of 61.70%, comparable to those available in the market and industry. Regarding improving mechanical properties with natural fibers, the suitable fibers from the selection were cotton, kapok, and banana fibers mixed in the ratio of 20:40:40 in the MCKB5 formula. Hardness (Shore A) was the highest at 76.10 ± 3.19 and yield strength at 4.34 ± 0.81 MPa, which is a value that has improved the mechanical properties compared to regular rubber and monofilament rubber composite. The modified rubber composited with fibers is suitable for processing into rubber products.
For application to the design of creative industrial products with a focus on safety, including safety for traffic, body and environment, it can be designed as a prototype inspired by composition from the rubber tree. Analyze sketch patterns from the analytical hierarchy process for selection to bring the results to create prototype products. It was found that environmental safety products had the most appropriate weight value (0.465), which could be produced prototyping by a 3D printer in armour protection form to be used as a seawall. Based on tests using seawater swelling to assess the prototype's performance in environmental safety applications, the swelling effect tended to remain constant over time after soaking. It is suitable for application as a creative industry product in the future.