Biopolymers, 2017, vol 107, 7, pp. e23019
DOI:10.1002/bip.23019
Abstract
Rising ecological concerns and depletion of the potentially harmful environmental impacts caused by rubber products, are of prime importance in the industry. Therefore, implementation of sustainable greener materials is required to minimize the detrimental influences. In this research, we investigated the beneficial influence of naturally derived bio-resin toward the effects of association with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles in highly dispersible silica (HDS) reinforced Natural rubber (NR)/Epoxidized Natural Rubber (ENR)-based composites. This novel green composite offers impressive properties which were analyzed based on bound rubber content, transmission electron microscopy, physico-mechanical, dynamic mechanical, and cure characteristics. Nanoindentation studies demonstrated the enhanced hysteresis phenomenon of the green composites. The small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) characterization has been studied by using a Beaucage model and results corroborates that the insertion of bio-resin exhibits ameliorated state of silica dispersion in the green composites. Overall, the study with the bio-resin has provided the impetus in employing it as an alternative to the expensive synthetic route of silane coupling agent and toxic process oil.
