Understanding the coupling effect between lignin and polybutadiene elastomer

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

From an environmental and economic viewpoint, it is a win-win strategy to use materials obtained from renewable resources for the production of high-performance elastomer composites. Lignin, being a renewable biomass, was employed as a functional filler material to obtain an elastomer composite with a higher degree of mechanical performance. In the presence of a suitable coupling agent, an elevated temperature was preferred for the reactive mixing of lignin with polybutadiene rubber (BR). It is quite fascinating that the mechanical performance of this composite was comparable with carbon black-filled composites. The extraordinary reinforcing behavior of lignin in the BR matrix was understood by an available model of rubber reinforcement. In rubber composite preparation, the interfacial interaction between polybutadiene rubber and lignin in the presence of a coupling agent enabled the efficient dispersion of lignin into the rubber matrix, which is responsible for the excellent mechanical properties of the rubber composites. The rubber composites thus obtained may lead to the development of a sustainable and cost-effective end product with reliable performance. This novel approach could be implemented in other type of elastomeric materials, enabling a genuine pathway toward a sustainable globe.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number154
JournalJournal of Composites Science
Volume5
Issue number6
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0003-0675-6688/work/142239068

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Lignin as a filler, Lignin-rubber composites, Physicomechanical properties, Reinforcement, Waste utilization