Drying guideline to control colour quality of para rubber sheet by computation method

Abstract

Colour is one of the most important basic physical characteristics of dried para rubber sheets. This characteristic is used to determine the standards and trading prices. In this research, a mathematical model and a colour change equation were developed for para rubber sheet drying in a hot air oven, with the yellowness index (YI) as an indicator. The results show that the mathematical model provides validation of the moisture change and that the first-order rate reaction equation gives a satisfactory prediction of the colour change. The determination coefficient for every drying condition is between 0.9080–0.9742 and 0.9273–0.9813. Suitable drying conditions were used in the simulation using the model and equation, and the shortest drying time was applied in the study. Moreover, the colour value of the simulated para rubber sheet is not higher than that of the reference Unsmoked Sheet (USS) whose moisture is decreased by sun drying and is still in the best standard range.