Development and Characterization of Polymer Eco-Composites Based on Natural Rubber Reinforced with Natural Fibers.

Maria-Daniela Stelescu,Gabriela Craciun,Elena Manaila,Corina Chirila

doi:10.3390/ma10070787

Maria-Daniela Stelescu, Gabriela Craciun + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ma10070787

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Abstract

Natural rubber composites filled with short natural fibers (flax and sawdust) were prepared by blending procedure and the elastomer cross-linking was carried out using benzoyl peroxide. The microbial degradation of composites was carried out by incubating with Aspergillus niger recognized for the ability to grow and degrade a broad range of substrates. The extent of biodegradation was evaluated by weight loss and cross-linking degree study of composites after 2 months incubation in pure shake culture conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) have proved to be precious and valuable instruments for morphological as well as structural characterization of the composites before and after incubation with Aspergillus niger.

Highlights

Biodegradable composites have recently become of great interest, for applications in various industry sectors, as a replacement for conventional products with low sustainability
Decreasing of the reinforcement effect can be explained by some broken bonds, both from the vulcanized network of natural rubber and
Increased fiber content resulted in a higher water uptake, due to the hydrophobic nature of the Increased fiber content resulted in fiber a higher water uptake, dueinterfacial to the hydrophobic nature of the rubber, the hydrophilic nature of the as well as the greater area between the fiber rubber, the hydrophilic nature of the fiber as well as the greater interfacial area between the fiber and and the natural rubber matrix

Summary

Introduction

Biodegradable composites have recently become of great interest, for applications in various industry sectors, as a replacement for conventional products with low sustainability. Plastics are mostly thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers of high molecular mass (polystyrene, polymethacrylate, polyamide, polyvinyl chloride, phenol-formaldehyde resins, etc.). Plastics are organic synthetic or processed materials, in the manufacture of which petroleum is used both as feedstock and as energy [7,8]. The main characteristics of elastomeric materials (natural rubber, polybutadiene, neoprene, silicone, etc.) are the high elongation and elasticity of these materials, against breaking or cracking. In spite of the natural rubber production of only 40% of the total rubber demand, the superiority of natural rubber over synthetic rubber stems from its molecular structure and high-molecular mass (>1 MDa), leading to properties such as elasticity, resistance to abrasion and impact, efficient heat dispersal and resilience and malleability at low temperatures. To a certain extent, undefined secondary compounds

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