Mechanical Strong and Recyclable Rubber Nanocomposites with Sustainable Cellulose Nanocrystals and Interfacial Exchangeable Bonds

• DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c02581
• Publication Date: 2021-07-05T05:28:00Z
• Authors: Liming Cao; Zhou Gong; Chuanhui Xu; Yukun Chen
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology

Rubber is a strategically important polymeric material because of its high extensibility and resilience. However, traditional cross-linked rubber difficult to be reprocessed or recycled due the permanent covalent cross-linking, which puts huge burden on environment. Herein, we report covalently yet reprocessable carboxylated styrene butadiene (CSBR) nanocomposite reinforced by epoxy-modified tunicate cellulose nanocrystals (TCNCs). The epoxy modification TCNCs improves dispersibility interfacial interactions with matrix, thus improving mechanical properties nanocomposites. In addition, exchangeable ester bonds are formed at rubber–filler interface, network topology can rearranged via transesterification reactions. Therefore, materials under evaluated temperatures. particular, introducing metal coordination construct dual dynamic in system, nanocomposites further improved without compromising recycling reprocessing performance.