Natural rubber (NR) demonstrates excellent mechanical strength and tensile elasticity after vulcanization. However, the sulfur curing system will generate many problems, including the usage of toxic accelerators, blooming, and unrecyclable products. Therefore, it is a big challenge to prepare high-performance elastomers without sulfur vulcanization in the natural rubber (NR) industry. Here, a small amount of graphene oxide (GO)/zwitterionic chitin nanocrystals (NC) hybrids (GC) are first introduced in NR latex to reinforce unvulcanized NR. The NR/GC nanocomposite exhibits a high tensile strength of 19.2 MPa and a large breaking elongation of 825.9%, rivaling that of sulfur-vulcanized rubber. NC with amino and carboxyl groups can act as a macromolecular bridge and enhance the interfacial interaction between GO sheets and NR particles due to its strong attraction to both of them. Moreover, the dispersion of GO in NR is dramatically improved after adding NC due to the hybrid-synergetic effect. Thus, the formed uniform hybrid nanofiller networks strongly absorbed on NR macromolecules can significantly enhance the mechanical properties of nanocomposites. As a concept of proof, the medical gloves prepared by NR/GC latex show better performances than those of the vulcanizates, including good recycle ability, higher water vapor permeability, and good biocompatibility.
Biodegradable poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) has excellent processing and mechanical properties. However, PBAT is expensive and its relatively slow biodegradation rate limits its wide application. In this paper, PBAT/thermoplastic starch (TPS) complexes were prepared by a two‐step process using epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) as a reactive compatibilizer. The compatibilizing ability of ESO was investigated by FT‐IR and GPC. Results showed ESO could form a chemical bonding interface with PBAT and TPS. Compared to PBAT/TPS, tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength of PBAT/TPS/5%ESO composites increased by 84%, 53%, and 68%, respectively. The optical transparency of the PBAT/TPS/5%ESO film improved by 6% compared to the PABT/TPS film. This research offers a viable solution for the preparation of high performance, green PBAT/TPS complexes.
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