Aramid nanofiber as a polyfunctional crosslinker for epoxidized natural rubber with robust and recyclable properties

Abstract

Facilitating biobased rubber with excellent reprocessability is a facile strategy to save resources and protect the environment evoked by the waste vulcanizates. Herein, a novel worm-like structure of aramid nanofibers (ANFs) was designed and served as both reinforcing agent and crosslinker for the biobased epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). The worm-like ANFs which covered a layer of nanoparticles could significantly hinder the strong orientation under intermolecular hydrogen bonds of the pristine ANFs, meanwhile hybrid interactions were created by forming hydrogen bonds and dynamic di-/polysulfide crosslinking between ANFs and ENR. Therefore, a well dispersed ANFs in the ENR matrix was established by the green aqueous compounding method and achieved advanced stress and modulus as well as the desirable recycling and self-healing ability. This strategy opens up new avenues for the design of rubber composites with enhanced strength, recyclable and repairable properties.