Improvement of the Functionalities of Natural Rubber/Cellulose Composites Using Epoxidized Natural Rubber

Abstract

We investigated the efficient use of cellulose to resolve the problem of the depletion of fossil resources. In this study, as the biomass material, the green composite based on natural rubber (NR) and the flake-shaped cellulose particles (FSCP) was produced. Moreover, in order to improve vibration-damping and O 2 barrier properties, NR and epoxidized natural rubber (ENR) blends were also used. In addition, butyl rubber (IIR) was used as a target of damping or gas-barrier materials. Vibration-damping and O 2 barrier properties of the composite including FSCP was increased with increasing ENR content. In particular, we found that ENR-50 composite containing 50 phr FSCP has higher vibration-damping property than IIR composite containing 50 phr carbon black.