Publication / ScienceDirect – Polymer : Chemically modified starch reinforced natural rubber composites

Chemically modified starch reinforced natural rubber composites

Chi Liu^a, Yan Shao^a and Demin Jia^{, a,}

 

^aCollege of Materials Science and Technology, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, China

Received 20 August 2007; 

revised 29 February 2008; 

accepted 4 March 2008. 

Available online 6 March 2008.

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Abstract

Chemically modified starch paste (MST) with polybutylacrylate (PBA) graft chains is investigated as a reinforcing filler of rubber through mixing and co-coagulating with natural rubber (NR) latex. The PBA graft chains are designed to prevent hydrogen bonding and crystallization of starch and to improve compatibility between starch and rubber. Through the comparison of mechanical properties and phase morphology, MST is proved to be much superior to unmodified starch paste. Unmodified starch paste acts as essentially inert filler causing a decrease of tensile strength, tear strength and elongation at break. In contrast, optimum MST shows obvious reinforcement effect on NR matrix by increasing tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength besides modulus and hardness. Moreover, fine starch dispersion and strong interfacial interaction are achieved in NR/MST composites. The observed reinforcement effect is interpreted based on the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses of grafted starch in comparison with natural starch and gelatinized starch.

Keywords: Natural rubber latex; Grafted starch; Composites

ScienceDirect – Polymer : Chemically modified starch reinforced natural rubber composites