Abstract
Research and development of nanocellulose and nanocellulose-reinforced composite materials have garnered substantial interest in recent years. This is greatly attributed to its unique functionalities and properties, such as being renewable, sustainable, possessing high mechanical strengths, having low weight and cost. This review aims to highlight recent developments in incorporating nanocellulose into rubber matrices as a reinforcing filler material. It encompasses an introduction to natural and synthetic rubbers as a commodity at large and conventional fillers used today in rubber processing, such as carbon black and silica. Subsequently, different types of nanocellulose would be addressed, including its common sources, dimensions, and mechanical properties, followed by recent isolation techniques of nanocellulose from its resource and application in rubber reinforcement. The review also gathers recent studies and qualitative findings on the incorporation of a myriad of nanocellulose variants into various types of rubber matrices with the main goal of enhancing its mechanical integrity and potentially phasing out conventional rubber fillers. The mechanism of reinforcement and mechanical behaviors of these nanocomposites are highlighted. This article concludes with potential industrial applications of nanocellulose-reinforced rubber composites and the way forward with this technology.
Highlights
In recent decades, applications of natural, renewable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable materials have become increasingly important in the fields of polymer science and engineering
This review encompasses the recent advances of incorporating NC into various rubber matrices and its mechanical integrity improvement
As the demand for safe and less toxic nanofillers for rubber applications surges, it is postulated that natural material will drive industrial needs emphasizing sustainable solutions with goals of replacing harmful nanofillers
Summary
Applications of natural, renewable, environmentally friendly, and sustainable materials have become increasingly important in the fields of polymer science and engineering. It was anticipated that this field of research would excel in producing valuable products with lower carbon footprints and environmental consequences In this context, the use of organic materials in polymers to improve their properties has garnered much interest from the scientific community and even large-scale industries. The use of organic materials in polymers to improve their properties has garnered much interest from the scientific community and even large-scale industries Such methods could be a reasonable substitute for non-renewable sources or synthetic chemicals. Like NR, synthetic rubber has found its way in a myriad of industries and applications such as in aerospace, footwear, healthcare equipment and devices, personal protective equipment, toys, latex-based paints, sealants, adhesives and belts for mechanical parts.
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