Rebound Resilience Research Articles

Fabric‐Reinforced Functional Insoles with Superior Durability and Antifracture Properties for Energy Harvesting and AI‐Empowered Motion Monitoring

AbstractFunctional triboelectric insoles hold promise for advancing self‐powered wearable technologies. However, their durability is compromised by continuous compressive forces and friction, leading to surface abrasion and material fracturing. To address these challenges, an innovative fabric‐reinforced structure combined with a dual‐L backrest design is developed that enhances anti‐fracture capabilities and electric outputs while enabling AI‐empowered motion monitoring. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is used as the negative triboelectric material with a dual‐L backrest design, while insulated copper wire (icuW) serves as the positive triboelectric material with an annular structure design. These components are intricately nested to enable a multilayered friction pairing. The fabric‐reinforced structure demonstrates excellent compressive rebound resilience, withstanding forces of at least 1000 N. The functional insole, featuring a fabric‐reinforced dual‐L backrest structure (FRdL‐insole), efficiently harvests biomechanical energy with a peak power of 8214 µW and maintains highly consistent performance after 10 washing cycles and 60 000 durability tests. It can power portable electronic devices such as digital watches, calculators, hygrometers, and LEDs. Enhanced with machine learning algorithms, the FRdL‐insole processes sensor signals to monitor human movements, accurately identifying seven distinct motions. This positions the insole as a smart, real‐time, self‐powered tool for activity recognition, showcasing its potential in intelligent wearable technology.

Synergic effects of physio‐mechanical performances on sliding‐rolling tribological and abrasion behaviors of polyisoprene based aviation tire treads

AbstractAbrasion and tribological properties of tread rubber play a crucial role in governing the service life of aviation tires and the safety of aircrafts. Polyisoprene (IR) with the same chemical structure as natural rubber shows great potential for application in aviation tires. Herein, the abrasion and tribological behaviors of IR based composites under sliding‐rolling conditions were investigated in relation to the carbon black (CB N234) content, sliding‐rolling ratio, ambient temperature, and counterparts in order to provide guidance for the development of high‐performance aviation tire treads. Moreover, the relationship between wear performances and physical–mechanical properties was discussed to establish a prediction model. The results revealed that physical and mechanical properties affected wear performances in a synergetic manner, which could be described as a negative linear correlation of the folding wear with the product of hardness and rebound resilience (H4R) and the ratio between rebound resilience and tensile strength ((1‐R)/σ) even at elevated temperature and sliding‐rolling ratio regardless of the counterpart. The increase in CB N234 content and sliding‐rolling (s‐r) ratio resulted in a transition of the wear mechanism from folding to abrasion due to the formation of soft rubber particles with a certain fluidity and a lubricating transfer film that was located at the friction interface and was generated by the thermal‐mechanical degradation of the IR matrix when it was rubbed against steel counterparts, which marred the aforementioned negative linear relationship.Highlights The increase in temperature improved the abrasion resistance of tire treads. The folding wear was negatively and linearly related to H4R and (1‐R)/σ. Increasing CB N234 content and s‐r ratio made a transition of wear mechanism.

Micromechanical insights for enhancing the rebound resilience of sealing materials based on TPV

Thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV) with fascinating high elasticity has been received the ongoing research attention in the application of sealing system for the engineering machine. However, there still exists one factor, the plastic strain of plastic matrix adjacent to rubber particles in equatorial direction, which has greatly inhibited the resilience improvement of TPV. Traditional in-situ online experiments could not accurately obtain and quantify the stress-strain evolution behavior of heterogeneous rubber-plastic materials, crucial for resilience. Herein, one kind of TPV based on polyamide thermoplastic elastomer (TPAE) and ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM) with outstanding rebound resilience has been fabricated via introducing the interfacial compatibilization reaction and reinforcing particles during the melt-reactive blending. One three-dimensional representative volume element (3D-RVE) model has been established to analyze the deformation mechanism of such designed TPV in this work compared with that for TPV based on polypropylene (PP) and EPDM. By analyzing the forces on the RVE mesh units, it could reveal that the TPAE matrix exhibited more uniform stress transfer behavior at the thin ligament, and the recovery behavior of TPV matrix mainly occurred at the thin ligament. This work would provide important value for the preparation of new high elastic TPV materials from a microscopic level.

Constituent compatibility and physical properties of bio‐based EUG/EPDM blends

AbstractEucommia ulmoides gum (EUG)/ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) blends were prepared using EUG with high and low molecular weight, respectively, and their physical properties and constituents compatibility were investigated. The blend exhibited superior physical properties and constituents compatibility when EUG with high molecular weight occupied 10 wt%. When its content increased further, the physical properties deteriorated gradually，the results of SEM, DSC, and DMA diagrams indicated poorer constituents compatibility. The blends prepared from EUG with low molecular weight can achieve better compatibility in a comprehensive range of blending ratio. When the EUG content was 20 wt%, the maximum tensile strength of the blend was observed, which was 49.9% higher than that of pure EPDM, its rebound resilience ascended by 5%, and the wear resistance remained nearly unchanged.

Influence of Tire Reclaimed Rubber (TRR) Loadings on Cure Characteristics and Mechanical Properties of Natural Rubber/Styrene Butadiene Rubber (NR/SBR) Blends

This investigation delves into the potential utilization of Tire Reclaimed Rubber (TRR) as a filler within Natural Rubber/Styrene Butadiene Rubber (NR/SBR) blends. TRR is obtained from discarded rubber tires and stands as a pertinent resource that necessitates its effective utilization in the production of eco-friendly, value-added rubber-based products. This is due to the rising of rubber waste tires which causes environmental concerns and all sorts of pollution. The TRR filled NR/SBR blends were fabricated using two-roll mills. The loadings of TRR were varied ranging from 20 phr to 100 phr. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of TRR loading on the curecharacteristics and mechanical properties of blends in terms of tensile strength, rebound resilience, hardness, and density. It is found that the MH and Δ torque exhibited a decreasing trend which would indicate a reduction in crosslink density due to high loading of TRR. Meanwhile, the ts2 and tc95 increased with the increase of TRR loading. Furthermore, the tensile strength, hardness, density, and rebound resilience of blends experience a steady reduction with the incorporation of TRR. The decrement of those properties might be due to the low molecular weight of TRR. Regarding the collective findings, TRR emerges as a potentially viable candidate for waste rubber repurposing, serving as a non-reinforcing filler with optimal utility achieved at a 30 phr loading level.

Synthesis and characterization of antibacterial and low‐temperature resistant slow rebound polyurethane foams

AbstractSlow rebound polyurethane foam (SPUF) has been widely used due to its advantages such as sound insulation, energy absorption, and good tactile sensation. However, SPUF is prone to harden at low temperature, and its application in medical equipment and households requires significant antibacterial properties. In this paper, self‐made silicone modified polyethylene glycol (Si‐APEG) and graphene oxide supported allicin (Alc@GO) were prepared and used as low‐temperature resistant agent and antibacterial agent, respectively. Low‐temperature resistant polyurethane foam (LSPUF) and antibacterial LSPUF (ALSPUF) were prepared respectively with water as foaming agent. The morphology of ALSPUF was observed by scanning electron microscope. Properties studied include apparent core density and porosity, mechanical properties including tensile strength, 40% compressive hardness, and rebound resilience, as well as low‐temperature resistance. Effects of Si‐APEG content on the structures and properties were analyzed and the LSPUF with an Si‐APEG content of 10 wt.% showed the best comprehensive performance. Therefore, ALSPUFs with Si‐APEG content of 10 wt.% and Alc@GO content of 0–3 wt.% were prepared. The addition of Alc@GO increased the antibacterial ratio significantly without obvious effect on the structure and mechanical properties of LSPUF. The antibacterial ratio of ALSPUF reached 99.07% at a Alc@GO content of 2.5 wt.% and testing time of 60 min. This work provides an effective and feasible method for the preparation of ALSPUF which can be widely used in medical devices and households.Highlights Silicone modified polyether is a suitable low‐temperature resistant agent for PU foam. Allicin supported on GO provides good antibacterial property for PU foam. ALSPUF has better mechanical properties than SPU.

Correlations between the Aging Behavior and Finite Element Method Simulation of Three Silicone Elastomers.

The material parameters required to describe material behavior can change with the age of the components due to chemical and physical aging processes. The finite element method (FEM) is a tool for designing components for later use. The aim of this study is to correlate the change in the mechanical properties of silicone elastomers from standard tests over a longer period of time with the parameters of the Mooney-Rivlin model. To date, there are no publications on the development of the Mooney-Rivlin parameters of silicone elastomers over a storage period. For this purpose, the Shore A hardness, rebound elasticity, compression set and tensile properties were investigated over an aging period of approx. 200 days on two liquid silicone rubbers (LSRs) and one room-temperature-vulcanizing (RTV) silicone rubber. Depending on the silicone elastomer used, different trends in the characteristic values can be observed over the storage period. In general, increases in the Shore A hardness, rebound resilience and stress at a 100% strain with a decrease in the compression set can be determined. In addition to standard tensile tests, the material's multiaxial behavior under tension was probed, and it was found that the similarly stress at a 100% strain increased. Finite element simulations verified the standard tensile test and corresponding Mooney-Rivlin model parameters. These parameters from the uniaxial tensile were validated in the multiaxial behavior, and the model's accuracy in representing material properties and the influence of aging on the FEM simulation were affirmed.

Material Testing for Physicists: Unraveling the Dissipative Nature of Silicone Elastomers via Ball Drop Testing

AbstractIsaac Newton once contemplated the fall of an apple, setting in motion a revolution in the understanding of gravity. In a similar spirit of curiosity and inquiry, here a journey is embarked upon to explore the intricate world of viscoelastic damping for polydimethylsiloxanes (PDMS). Inspired by the notion that even the simplest of phenomena can yield profound insights, a novel approach to study damping in silicone elastomers through a simple ball drop test is introduced. This novel solution allowes for precise measuring and analyzing the material's damping characteristics under various conditions. By carefully controlling the release and monitoring, the response of the falling ball by simple video tracking, valuable insights into the key viscoelastic properties of silicone blends are extracted, including rebound resilience, Young's modulus, and complex modulus. Through the analysis of trajectory data generated during the sphere's interaction with the silicone damper, dynamic and static material parameters are determined. Remarkably, these outcomes closely align with results obtained from cost‐intensive and high‐maintenance industrial measurement setups such as dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DTMA) or tensile testing. This approach not only simplifies the complexity of the system but also offers a cost‐effective and efficient means of gaining essential knowledge in material science.

Natural and synthetic isoprene rubbers obtained using Ziegler–Natta catalysts

Objectives. To compare the properties of rubber compounds and rubbers based on natural rubber RSS1 and synthetic isoprene rubbers obtained using Ti, Nd, Gd catalysts, both when used individually in the formulation of rubber compounds and when synthetic analogues partially replace natural rubber.Methods. Rubber compounds were prepared using a laboratory roll and a 100 cm3 rubber mixer. For rubber compounds, the following factors were determined: Mooney viscosity, cohesive strength, and vulcanization characteristics. For rubbers, the following factors were determined: physical and mechanical parameters, Shore A hardness, rebound resilience, and volume loss upon abrasion.Results. Based on the results of the rubber compound tests, the study showed that compounds based on all the synthetic polyisoprenes studied are significantly inferior to compounds based on natural rubber in terms of cohesive strength. The partial replacement of natural rubber with synthetic rubber (regardless of the type of catalytic system) leads to a significant decrease in the cohesive strength of the blends. Despite the differences observed in the properties of the rubber compounds, the results of the rubbers based on individual rubbers do not manifest significant differences.Conclusions. The study demonstrated the influence of defects (oligomers, gel, low molecular weight fractions, branches, and 3,4-units) in the structure of synthetic polyisoprenes on the cohesive strength index of rubber compounds based on them, in which the number of 3,4-units plays a decisive role. The study also showed the potential of studying synthetic polyisoprenes as analogues of natural rubber in formulations of rubber compounds in the aims of resolving the problem of import substitution in the tire and rubber goods industry.

Obtaining and Characterizing New Types of Materials Based on Low-Density Polyethylene and Thermoplastic Starch

Significant interest is devoted to the development of new polymer blends by using concepts of the circular economy. Such materials have predetermined properties, are easy to recycle, ecological, and have a low carbon footprint. This research presents obtaining and characterization of polymer blends based on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and thermoplastic starch (TPS). In the first stage, TPS was obtained through the gelatinization process, and, in the second stage, mixtures of LDPE and TPS were obtained through a melt mixing process at 150 °C for 7 min. The physical–mechanical characteristics of the samples, like hardness, elongation at break, rebound resilience, and tensile strength, were determined. The sample containing maleic anhydride grafted low-density polyethylene (LDPE-g-MA) as a compatibilizer shows improvements in elongation at break and tensile strength (by 6.59% and 40.47%, respectively) compared to the test sample. The FTIR microscopy maps show that samples containing LDPE-g-MA are more homogeneous. The SEM micrographs indicate that TPS-s is homogeneously dispersed as droplets in the LDPE matrix. From the thermal analysis, it was observed that both the degree of crystallinity and the mass loss at high temperature are influenced by the composition of the samples. The melt flow index has adequate values, indicating good processability of the samples by specific methods (such as extrusion or injection).

Effect of Tulbaghia violacea‐Derived Devulcanized Rubber on the Properties of Natural Rubber/Styrene‐Butadiene Rubber Blends

AbstractThe current study serves to demonstrate the potential utilization of devulcanized rubber produced using Tulbaghia violacea Harv. in a supercritical media. The devulcanized rubber, ranging from 5 to 35 wt% is incorporated into virgin natural rubber (NR)/styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) blends. The effect of devulcanized rubber addition is assessed by evaluating variations in the curing characteristics, physical attributes, morphologies, mechanical properties, and dynamic mechanical analysis of several vulcanized blends. The findings indicate a reduction in the blends' curing characteristics with an increase in devulcanized rubber proportion, except for minimum torque. Furthermore, the ultimate tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength, and rebound resilience decrease, while the tensile moduli and stiffness exhibit an increase with an increase in devulcanized rubber proportion. The observed decline in mechanical property is associated with failure points identified through surface fracture imaging. Additionally, an increase in crosslink density and hardness aligned with the alterations in dynamic mechanical properties as the proportion of devulcanized rubber is increased. The study suggests that the rubber devulcanized with T. violacea Harv.—when blended with virgin NR/SBR blends—could be tailored for specific applications.

Preliminary Investigation on the Mechanical Properties of Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (XNBR) Blended with Different Loadings of Butyl Reclaimed Rubber (BRR)

Reclaimed rubber (RR) from butyl tubes was evaluated as a partial and full replacement of a virgin rubber which is carboxylated nitrile butadiene (XNBR). This study involves the blending of carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber with butyl reclaimed rubber (XNBR/BRR) in various loadings andcured with sulfur by using a two-roll mill. The objective is to investigate the effect of RR loading on crosslink density and mechanical properties of XNBR/BRR blends. The mechanical properties such as hardness, rebound resilience, tear strength, tensile strength, elongation at break, and modulus were evaluated. In this study, the amount of reclaimed rubber varied from 0 phr to 161 phr. The results showed that the rebound resilience, tear strength, and tensile strength had a reduction of 43%, 27%, and 67%, respectively. Also, the hardness and modulus increased by 17% and 60% each. As for the elongation at break, it had a decrease of 69% and then an increment of about 77%. These results appeared due to the low molecular 1 weight of the BRR800 and the presence of processing oil and carbon black in the reclaimed rubber itself. This study could prove that reclaimed rubber can be fully utilized by putting it to good use in producing good quality rubber-based products.

Advanced Design and Fabrication of Dual-Material Honeycombs for Improved Stiffness and Resilience.

Auxetic re-entrant honeycomb (AREH) structures, consisting of a single soft or tough material, have long faced the challenge of balancing stiffness and rebound resilience. To achieve this balance, dual-material printing technology is employed to enhance shock absorption by combining layers of soft and tough materials. Additionally, a novel structure called the curved re-entrant honeycomb (CREH) structure has been introduced to improve stiffness. The selected materials for processing the composite structures of AREH and CREH are the rigid thermoplastic polymer polylactic acid (PLA) and the soft rubber material thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), created utilizing fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing technology. The influence of the material system and structure type on stress distribution and mechanical response was subsequently investigated. The results revealed that the dual-material printed structures demonstrated later entry into the densification phase compared to the single-material printed structures. Moreover, the soft material in the interlayer offered exceptional protection, thereby ensuring the overall integrity of the structure. These findings effectively serve as a reference for the design of dual-material re-entrant honeycombs.

Compressive Stress-Strain and Rebound Resilience Properties of Deproteinized Natural Rubber Latex Foam

Deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR) latex is a modified version of natural rubber (NR) latex that is hypoallergenic and odorless when used in products. However, due to the lack of studies in this field, there are relatively few DPNR latex foam products to date. Our laboratory has developed a novel manufacturing technique that involves a heat-enzymatic reaction followed by a concentration procedure to generate DPNR latex directly from freshly tapped latex and to manufacture a novel DPNR latex foam using the Dunlop batch foaming procedure. To investigate the mechanical properties of the foam, ball-rebound resilience studies and compression tests were conducted on DPNR latex, commercial grade polyurethane (PU) and polyurethane memory (PM) foams as a comparison. Compressive stress-strain study revealed that the hysteresis loss ratio of DPNR latex foam, PU foam, and PM foam is 0.19, 0.66, and 0.86, respectively. DPNR latex foam exhibits the lowest hysteresis loss ratio due to its elastic behavior thus able to store a high amount of energy when under compressed. On the other hand, the rebound resilience of DPNR latex foam, PU foam, and PM foam is 74%, 29%, and 9%, respectively, indicating that DPNR latex foam has the highest rebound resilience. The resilience property is correlated with the elasticity, dimensional stability and durability of foam materials. Thus, DPNR latex foam is suitable for heavy-duty cushion applications including seats for transportation industry.

Development of sansevieria trifasciata/natural rubber composites for a soft body armor application

Body armor is an indispensable material in the military and defense. The development of body armor nowadays has shifted to lower-cost material with comparable ballistic properties. This research studied the potential of sansevieria trifasciata (ST) fiber as a reinforcement in soft body armor composite. The ST fiber was treated with various NaOH concentrations to achieve the highest tensile strength. The result showed that the highest ST fiber strength was achieved at 1.2GPa by treating the fiber with 1 wt% NaOH solution. The rebound resilience properties of the natural rubber (NR) matrix were optimized by varying the accelerator and carbon black content and were tested according to ISO 4662. The optimum energy absorption of the NR matrix was obtained using 0.4 part per hundred rubber (phr) accelerator and 30 phr carbon black. The ballistic performance of ST/NR composites was evaluated through a simulation using LS-DYNA software. The ballistic simulation revealed that the minimum thickness of ST/NR composite was 15mm to stop a bullet with a velocity of 436m/s. The results of this study indicated that ST/NR green composite was a promising candidate for a soft body armor application.

Preparation and microcellular foaming of crosslinked polyethylene-octene elastomer by ionic modification

Polyethylene-octene elastomer (POE) has the advantages associated with thermoplastics and rubbers, and is therefore widely used in various fields. To achieve better performance, zinc oxide (ZnO) and stearic acid were introduced into maleic anhydride-grafted POE to create ionically crosslinked structures. Owing to these crosslinked structures, the tensile strength and creep resistance of POE were improved. After crosslinking, the viscoelastic properties of the polymer matrix were enhanced, thus stabilizing the cellular structure of the foams prepared by supercritical CO2 foaming. When the foaming condition was 8 MPa and 55 °C, the cell size of the POE-10ZnO foam was reduced from 50 µm to 23 µm, and the cell density was improved by approximately an order of magnitude higher than that of neat POE foam. The cyclic resilience of the foams was also investigated. The results showed that the POE-10ZnO foam exhibited good rebound resilience and high compressive strength.

Enhancement of the cure behavior and mechanical properties of nanoclay reinforced NR/SBR vulcanizates based on waste tire rubber

The most important goal of this work was to investigate the different physical and mechanical properties of the nanoclay (montmorillonite, MMT)-filled 50/50 wt.% of natural rubber/styrene butadiene rubber (NR/SBR) blend containing 40 phr of waste tire rubber (WTR) in the presence of bio-resin. The MMT was added into the NR/SBR/WTR blends and processed via a two-roll mill to prepare blends at 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 phr of nanoclay filler and a constant concentration of 10 phr of bio-resin. The morphology, rheological, percent of swelling weight, and mechanical properties of the MMT-reinforced NR/SBR/WTR blends were examined. The cure characteristics of the blends showed that MMT significantly affected the scorch and vulcanization times, torques, and curing rate of NR/SBR/WTR blends at all filler contents. Also, the findings revealed that the MMT was an efficient reinforcing material for the NR/SBR/WTR blend, improving crosslink density, tensile and tear strengths, hardness, compression set, and abrasion resistance. The tensile strength of filled NR/SBR/WTR blends achieved its maximum value (11.2 MPa) when the MMT content was 15 phr. While the elongation percent of the filled blends decreased for all MMT concentrations compared with the pristine blend. The elastic modulus and tear strength of the blends improved as the MMT loading increased. The hardness (Shore A) continued to increase with increasing MMT loading. On the contrary, the rebound resilience gradually decreased leading to improved interaction between the matrix and filler.

Preparation and performance study of modified soybean oil polyurethane foam used for soccer equipment

AbstractSoccer is known as the world's largest sport and has a wide range of players. Most of the materials used in existing football equipment are polyurethane extracted from petrochemical resources, which are gradually reduced and non‐renewable. Finding an alternative new material is an inevitable trend. Soybean oil (SO) was quantitatively transformed into polyols to afford industrially important high resilience flexible polyurethane foam(HR‐PUF). Photoinduced thiol‐ene click chemistry was investigated for the efficient preparation of modified soybean oil polyols (MESO) with primary hydroxyl groups. In order to improve the reaction efficiency and the degree of carbon–carbon double bonds functionalization, reduce reaction time, we have chosen a step‐by‐step method of adding. The effects of different reaction times and [thiol]/[ene] ratios on conversion and degree of functionalization were discussed. It is realized that under room temperature conditions, after 12 h of reaction, the carbon–carbon double bond of SO is almost completely converted and quantitatively converted into a hydroxyl group to a degree of 89%. The corresponding HR‐PUFs were prepared by mixing MESO with L2000 (Polyether Polyol). The effect of the difference in the amount of MESO added to the foam properties was investigated. Through the apparent density and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), it can be concluded that with the amount of MESO added increases, the cell size, opening ratio and the number of cells of HR‐PUF are decreased, the density is increased. Through thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic thermomechanical analysis (DMA), it was proved that the thermal stability of the foam increased with the addition of MESO. Through 40% compression strength (CLD40%), ball rebound experiments, and static compression experiment. It is proved that the increase of the addition of MESO, the rebound resilience of HR‐PUF can be improved.

EPMD/NBR 나노복합체의 기계적 물성에 Halloysite Nanotube(HNT)가 미치는 영향 연구

The nanocomposite of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), and halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) was produced. On a two-roll mill, the 0–25 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of HNTs with 70/30 EPDM/NBR was mixed. The effect of HNT on the cure characteristics (scorch (tSUBS2/SUB) and optimum cure time (tSUB90/SUB), cure rate index, maximum torque, minimum torque and torque difference) and mechanical properties of the composites were studied and discussed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the surface morphology of tensile-fractured EPDM/NBR rubber-HNTs. Tensile strength, 100% modulus, elongation at break, tear strength, hardness, abrasion resistance, and compression set were increased whereas rebound resilience, tSUBS2/SUB, and tSUB90/SUB were decreased with increasing in the concentration of HNTs in it.

Fabrication and properties of natural rubber/rice starch/activated carbon biocomposite-based packing foam sheets and their application to shelf life extension of ‘Hom Thong’ banana

Natural rubber (NR) and rice starch (RS) biocomposite-based packing foam sheets were successfully prepared by the Dunlop method, with activated carbon (AC) as a filler to enhance mechanical properties (and to absorb ethylene gas released by packaged bananas). The primary objective of this study was to examine the influences of activated carbon contents from 0 to 20 phr on physical, morphological, mechanical, and thermal properties of the biocomposite foams. With increasing AC content, the foam cell size, density, hardness, compression force deflection (CFD), compression set, tensile strength, elongation at break, tear strength and glass transition temperature (Tg) increased, while the number density of foam cells and rebound resilience decreased. However, the content of activated carbon did not affect the thermal stability. Furthermore, the developed biocomposite foam with 15 phr AC, which had the highest ethylene removal, was used to evaluate the ethylene absorption capacity and the quality of 'Hom Thong' bananas during 12 days of storage in terms of weight loss, pulp firmness, total soluble solids (TSS), physical appearance, and peel color, with comparison to a commercial foam and control. The biocomposite foam with 15 phr AC lowered the ambient ethylene levels considerably, hence delaying fruit ripening and decreasing chlorophyll degradation, TSS, and pulp firmness at 6 days of ambient storage. The proposed biocomposite foam shows potential for enhancing the postharvest storage stability of bananas and has great potential as packaging for other fresh fruit products.