Synergistic effect of cuttlebone particles and non-rubber components on reinforcing ability of natural rubber and synthetic isoprene rubber composites

Abstract

The comparison of the reinforcing ability of cuttlebone (CTBO) particles in natural and synthetic isoprene rubber (NR and IR, respectively) composites were investigated. The CTBO particles could reinforce in both NR and IR composites. However, the improvement of tensile properties in CTBO-filled NR composites was higher than that of IR composites due to the presence of non-rubber components in NR. The non-rubber components promoted the strong interfacial adhesions with filler and rubbery matrix to increase the bound rubber content. These results affected the increase of the stress softening degree, hysteresis loss, residual strain during cyclic deformation and the volume fraction of constrained rubber region (immobilized area of rubber) in CTBO-filled NR composites. The atomic force microscopy evidently revealed good compatibility between the CTBO particles and the NR matrix due to the presence of organic components from CTBO particles and from non-rubber components in NR. Accordingly, the CTBO particles and non-rubber components play important roles in improving the properties of green rubber composite materials.