Development and Characterization of Bacterial Cellulose Reinforced with Natural Rubber.

Kornkamol Potivara,Muenduen Phisalaphong

doi:10.3390/ma12142323

Abstract

Films of bacterial cellulose (BC) reinforced by natural rubber (NR) with remarkably high mechanical strength were developed by combining the prominent mechanical properties of multilayer BC nanofibrous structural networks and the high elastic hydrocarbon polymer of NR. BC pellicle was immersed in a diluted NR latex (NRL) suspension in the presence of ethanol aqueous solution. Effects of NRL concentrations (0.5%–10% dry rubber content, DRC) and immersion temperatures (30–70 °C) on the film characteristics were studied. It was revealed that the combination of nanocellulose fibrous networks and NR polymer provided a synergistic effect on the mechanical properties of NR–BC films. In comparison with BC films, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the NR–BC films were considerably improved ~4-fold. The NR–BC films also exhibited improved water resistance over that of BC films and possessed a high resistance to non-polar solvents such as toluene. NR–BC films were biodegradable and could be degraded completely within 5–6 weeks in soil.

Highlights

Pollution deriving from plastic materials is becoming one of the most prominent environmental concerns of recent years
The particle size distribution (PSD) of natural rubber (NR) was analyzed by a laser diffraction particle size technique
bacterial cellulose (BC) pellicle was immersed in diluted NR latex (NRL) suspensions with the supplement of ethanol

Summary

Introduction

Pollution deriving from plastic materials is becoming one of the most prominent environmental concerns of recent years. Accumulation of plastic products in the environment has harmful effects on wildlife and their environment. Plastics dispersed in ocean ecosystems have become a major pollutant that has led to the direct deaths of marine animals. Developing renewable and biodegradable materials to replace conventional plastic materials is an increasingly important research area to reduce the level of plastic waste. Thailand is the largest producer and exporter of natural rubber (NR) globally. Global natural rubber production in 2015 was 12.3 million tons, 92% of which was produced in the Asia-Pacific region

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