Green nanocomposites of natural rubber/nanocellulose: Membrane transport, rheological and thermal degradation characterisations

Abstract

The membrane transport, rheological and thermal degradation properties of nanocomposites based on natural rubber (NR) latex reinforced with nanocellulose is clearly discussed with theoretical explanations. The concentration of the nanocelluloses in the composites was 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10wt%. The cross-linking agents like ZnO, sulphur etc. were used during the composite preparation stage. The existence of the three dimensional network of Zn/cellulose complex in the nanocomposite and its influence on the diffusion, rheological and thermal properties were also discussed. The Vrf value of the composite shows an increase from 0.74 (NR) to 0.80 (10% composite) which gives the evidence of the reinforcement of the filler in the matrix. The polarity and the tortuosity of the nanocellulose make the composites resistant to non-polar organic solvents and this behavior is increased with increasing the nanofibre content. The remarkable decrease in the diffusion coefficient and the equilibrium solvent absorption with the addition of nanocellulose is also discussed. Kraus empirical equation was used to ascertain the extent of reinforcement and found the percolation threshold value of the filler is in the range of 4.5–5.9wt% of nanocellulose.