Enhanced oil resistance and mechanical properties of nitrile butadiene rubber/lignin composites modified by epoxy resin

Abstract

This is probably the first report on developing nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites with enhanced performances via lignin bridged epoxy resin in the rubber matrix. NBR/lignin masterbatch has been prepared through latex-compounding method, and then epoxy resin (F51) was added in the NBR/lignin compounds by the melt compounding method. Lignin-epoxy resin networks were synthesized in situ during the curing process of rubber compounds through epoxide2hydroxyl reactions. Compared with lignin filler, lignin-F51 networks showed an improved oil resistance ability and led to increased mechanical properties, crosslinking density, and thermal stability of the rubber composites. This method provides a new insight into the fabrication of novel interpenetrating polymer networks in rubber composites and enlarges the potential applications of lignin in high performance rubber composites.

Recent development of biodegradable synthetic rubbers and bio-based rubbers using sustainable materials from biological sources

“…Yu et al reported the use of lignin to form an interpenetrating network with commercial epoxy resin in NBR to strengthen the rubber composite and improved its oil resistance. 140 A thermoplastic composite could be achieved with the addition of GO filler in melt reactive mixing of NBR/lignin (ratio = 1 : 1) blend. The hydrophilic and high surface area GO platelet facilitated the dispersion of lignin fillers in the NBR to produce high TS and moderate EB composite with thermoplastic characteristics.…”

Approaches TowardIn SituReinforcement of Organic Rubbers: Strategy and Recent Progress

“…Whilst the NBR-lignin compound shows no network formation, a uniformly dispersed network can be observed for the NBR-lignin-epoxy sample. [117] Including additional commercial fillers such as CB or silica is a very effective approach to further tailor the mechanical properties of IPNs. It has been shown that fillers can have various influences on the final properties, including the hindrance of phase separation as well as altering the curing kinetics of the used components.…”

Bio-based polymers for sustainable packaging and biobarriers: A critical review

“…The origin and the type of processing of lignin influence its composition, which can vary considerably among different types of sources (Alén 2000;Domenek et al 2013;Hult et al 2013a;Gordobil et al 2014). Lignins can be found in the cell walls of plants (Gullichsen 2000;Yu et al 2016) and are classified as softwood, hardwood, and grass lignins (Alén 2000). The content of lignin in softwoods is normally higher than in hardwoods.…”