Synthetic polymers produced from non-renewable fossil fuel requires high energy cost and are dependent on the presumed unstable petroleum price. Guayule rubber latex is known to be a potential alternative rubber source since it is derived from arid adapted, low input shrubs. It is also known to be hypoallergenic which makes it suitable for personal use and competitive with other rubber sources in the medical device market. Our study primarily focuses on integrating sustainably processed carboxycellulose nanofibers from untreated jute biomass into guayule and natural rubber latex to enhance the mechanical strength of the material for various applications. The carboxycellulose nanofibers extracted using the Nitro-oxidation method possessed carboxyl content of 0.94 mmol/g and integrated into its deprotonated form (-COONa) for its higher dispersion in water to increase the interfacial interaction between latex and nanofibers. The TEM analysis of carboxycellulose nanofibers shows the dimensions of nanofibers are (L) &gt; 1000 nm and diameter (D) 4-6 nm. Furthermore, FTIR analysis of carboxycellulose nanofibers depicted the presence of the carboxyl group. However, the polydispersity and the effective diameter of natural rubber latex is measured by DLS. The DLS measurement shows the narrow polydispersity value of 0.005 with the effective diameter in the range of 643 nm. Tensile and expansion mechanical strengths are tested to observe the enhancement effects at various concentrations of carboxycellulose nanofibers in the latex.

Reinforcement of guayule and natural rubber latex using nitro-oxidized jute nanofibers

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.