Stimuli‐responsive polymer nanocomposites based on styrene‐butadiene rubber and bacterial cellulose whiskers

Abstract

Water-induced mechanically adaptive rubber nanocomposites were prepared by mixing bacterial cellulose whiskers (BCWs) suspension with styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex, followed by evaporation method. The structure, morphology, dynamic mechanical properties, water stimuliresponsive behavior, and biodegradability of SBR/BCWs nanocomposite films were investigated.The results showed that the hydrophilic whiskers had a significant reinforcement effect on the storage modulus of SBR matrix, which originated from the formation of a rigid three-dimensional filler network within matrix by strong hydrogen bonding between whiskers. The SBR/BCWs nanocomposites showed pronounced water stimuli-responsive behavior compared with neat SBR. The storage modulus of SBR/BCWs nanocomposite could be decreased by 99.2% after equilibrium water swelling. This remarkable water-triggered modulus change is attributed to the disentanglement of BCWs network via competitive hydrogen bonding with water.

Water‐induced mechanically adaptive behavior of carboxylated acrylonitrile‐butadiene rubber reinforced by bacterial cellulose whiskers

“…The signature peak at 2,896 cm −1 is due to the C‐H stretching vibration of ‐CH 2 group in the side chain of cellulose, which suggests the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between cellulose chains . Additionally, the peak at 3,240 cm −1 is attributed to −OH stretching and bending variations, and the band at 1,426 cm −1 is assigned to symmetric CH 2 bending vibration, which is also related with the degree of crystallinity . Besides, absorption band at 896 cm −1 corresponds to C–O–C stretching at β (1–4) linkage .…”

“…Additionally, the peak at 3,240 cm −1 is attributed to −OH stretching and bending variations, and the band at 1,426 cm −1 is assigned to symmetric CH 2 bending vibration, which is also related with the degree of crystallinity . Besides, absorption band at 896 cm −1 corresponds to C–O–C stretching at β (1–4) linkage . It should be pointed out that the peaks at 3,240, 1,426, and 896 cm −1 are used to define cellulose allomorph as cellulose I .…”

“…Concentrated sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 , 98 wt%) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were bought from Shanghai Lingfeng Chemical Reagent Co. Ltd. (Shanghai, China). The BC pellicles were produced by Acetobacter xylinum NUST4.2 as described elsewhere .…”

Nanocellulose in Emulsions and Heterogeneous Water‐Based Polymer Systems: A Review

“…All reports of BNC in emulsion polymerization involve first polymerizing polymer particles (or purchasing commercial latexes) and then subsequently blending BNC into the water phase. To date, blending of BNC with polymers such as poly (hydroxyoctanoate), [242] poly(butyl acrylate-co-methyl methacrylate), [243] carboxylated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, [244,250] natural rubber, [245,247,249] and styrene-butadiene rubber [246,248] (all relatively low glass transition temperature, T g , polymers) have been shown to reinforce the polymer nanocomposites cast from dispersion. In most reports, the polymer particle diameter is not reported but typical sizes are listed in Table 4.…”

Synthesis and characterization of a pH‐ and glucose‐responsive triblock copolymer via RAFT technique and its conjugation with gold nanoparticles for biomedical applications

“…In the last decades, more and more research efforts have been devoted to developing stimuli responsive polymeric materials that self‐assemble into one or more forms of micellar aggregates in aqueous solutions or supramolecular gels in respond to external stimuli triggers such as pH, temperature, ultrasound, electric field, ion strength, and special enzymes. These materials find biomedical applications and have excellent potential to mimic the responsive macromolecules found in the nature …”