Exploring nanocrystalline cellulose as a green alternative of carbon black in natural rubber/butadiene rubber/styrene-butadiene rubber blends

Abstract

A series of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) reinforced natural rubber/butadiene rubber/styrene-butadiene rubber (NR/BR/SBR) blends were prepared via mastication of NR/NCC, BR/SBR and other ingredients. Resorcinol and hexamethylene tetramine (RH) was adopted to modify the interface between NCC and rubber matrix. The morphology, dynamic viscoelastic behavior, apparent crosslink density, mechanical performance and dynamic mechanical property of NR/BR/SBR/NCC blends were discussed in detail. The results showed that NCC was uniformly dispersed in composites and RH could enhance the adhesion of NCC and matrix. According to the dynamic mechanical analysis, NCC performed comparable reinforcing effect with carbon black (CB), and the modulus was improved with modification of RH. Mechanical tests showed that the replacement of CB by NCC in the blends did not deteriorate mechanical properties of composites. Besides, the blends exhibited best mechanical properties, when 10 phr NCC substituted CB.

Keywords

• Nanocomposites
• nanocrystalline cellulose
• NR/BR/SBR
• reinforcements