Natural rubber biocomposites containing corn, barley and wheat straw

Abstract

The development of high-performance materials made from available and cheap natural resources is increasing worldwide. A new solution – composites of natural rubber, containing barley, corn and wheat straw as biofillers, was reported and researched. The latest developments and trend's exams of the elastomers filled with cereal straw represent a scientific and technological innovation. The use of straw as a filler for elastomer composites bradens the range of functional properties and reduces the costs of production. The biocomposites are more ecofriendly and give the opportunity to increase the possibility of straw management which is a problematic agricultural waste. The rubber mixtures containing lignocellulosic materials demonstrate a favorable characteristic kinetics of crosslinking. The addition of filler, in an appropriate amount, modified natural rubber vulcanizates, improving mechanical and barrier properties of composites and the ability to damp under the influence of compression stress. Dynamic mechanical analysis showed change in the G′ values of the vulcanizates upon addition of straw. That indicates the presence of strongly developed network of fillers into polymer matrix which ensure of reinforcing character. The negative impact of natural fillers on resistance to thermo-oxidative aging was not observed.