Recent advances of natural fibers based green rubber composites: Properties, current status, and future perspectives

Abstract

The searching of suitable alternatives to petroleum‐based fillers is an uncompromising challenge in present day rubber research. Recently, natural fibers are the part of great attention of both academic and industrial researchers due to their easy availability, environmental friendliness, and biodegradability. Natural fiber is cellulose‐rich material, which is preferentially used as alternative filler in rubber technology. This article reviews current advances in natural fibers filled rubber composites in terms of mechanical, thermal, and biodegradable properties (2010–2020). The incorporation of unmodified natural fibers as filler is not able to offer desired reinforcement in rubber composites. Several surface modification methods can be introduced to improve the overall performances of natural fibers filled rubber composites. Finally, the review clarifies present status and future prospects of natural fibers based advanced rubber composites in automobile industry. The successful designing of natural fibers based sustainable rubber composites can introduce a new era in green rubber technology.

Recycling of Residual Polymers Reinforced with Natural Fibers as a Sustainable Alternative: A Review

“…Hardness is a characteristic of reinforced polymeric materials that depends on the cohesion of the fibers and their structure, presenting greater difficulty to be penetrated by other bodies. The investigations of Roy et al [4] and Wahab et al [89] reported a directly proportional relationship with the density of the material. Significant increases in the hardness of reinforced polymers occur with high percentages of natural fibers present in the matrix [10].…”

“…Silane is another coupling agent, responsible for improving mechanical properties to achieve thermal stability in the residual polymeric matrix. Silane molecules form covalent bonds through siloxane bridges, improving its interfacial adhesion; the effectiveness is due to the formation of Silanol (Si − OH) groups that form strong bonds with the hydroxyl groups − OH of the fibers [4,10,74].…”

“…Permanganate modifications also reduce the hydrophilic tendency of the fiber due to copolymerization by grafting of the cellulose matrix induced by the manganese ion Mn 2+ , which is highly reactive as an oxidizing agent that reacts with the hydroxyl ions − OH of the cellulose and form manganese, and is used in Roy et al [4], Moonart [77], Gowthaman et al [43], and Bordoloi et al [60] to modify the interfacial interaction and the performance of the molecular structure of fibrous materials in the polymeric matrix.…”

“…The use of more efficient biocomposites made from natural fibers and residual polymers in order to replace synthetic reinforcements has become a globally accepted alternative in various applications [1][2][3], due to their multiple advantages in some physical propertiesmechanical and thermal [4][5][6][7]-added to the ecological contribution conferred by the use of residual materials with good yields.…”

Preparation and Characterization of Eco-Friendly Spent Coffee/ENR50 Biocomposite in Comparison to Carbon Black

“…Rubber composites have been investigated using renewable, nonpetroleum-based filler sources such as kenaf [1], chitosan [2], starch [3][4][5], soy proteins [6], and other fibre [7][8][9][10][11]. Even though some of these materials have shown potential reinforcing capabilities, the industry appears hesitant to experiment with filler materials that are fundamentally different from carbon black (CB) in terms of appearance and source.…”