Suitability of different biomaterials for the application in tire

Research Article Suitability of different biomaterials for the application in tire Sambhu Bhadra1 · Nitin Mohan1 · Sujith Nair1 Received: 13 August 2019 / Accepted: 1 November 2019 / Published online: 5 November 2019 © Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019 Abstract Biomaterials are obtained from renewable sources, low cost, abundant supply, environmentally friendly, fossil free and biodegradable. Therefore, the main objective of the present research is to use different biomaterials, such as carbohydrates (starches, celluloses), proteins and lignin in tire compounds without compromising tire properties and gaining possible advantages in terms of properties, cost, weight and environment. We have incorporated (10 phr, top up) different type of starches, such as maize, wheat, rice, cassava, and cellulosic materials, such as microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, natural proteins, such as soya bean flour, and lignin in a silica filled tire tread compound and measured the properties to investigate if any of those materials can be used in tire. Among all these biomaterials, cassava, lignin and soya accelerate rate of vulcanization. Therefore, these materials can be used as bio-accelerator. Soya proteins imparts approximately 11% improvement in tensile strength and approximately 10% improvement in elongation at break. After the addition of biomaterials there is increase in marginal rolling resistance, increase in Payne effect and significant deterioration in wear property. Soya protein accelerate rate of vulcanization, improves mechanical properties, shows minimum deterioration in properties after ageing. Therefore, soya protein is the most suitable biomaterials among the materials studied for application in tire compound. Keywords Starch · Cellulose · Lignin · Soya · Rubber · Tire 1 Introduction Major parts of natural rubber (NR), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), butadiene rubber (BR) are used in tire manufacturing. Most of the synthetic polymers and few other ingredients of the tire compound are obtained from fossil based raw materials. Enormous effort is going on to produce products from fossil free biomaterials to contribute towards the conservation of global environment. It can be done in most efficient way by using biomaterials, such as carbohydrates (starches, celluloses), proteins and lignin in tire compounds. Biomaterials are obtained from renewable sources, low cost, abundant supply, environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Several studies have been carried out on the incorporation of biomaterials in rubber compounds. Nakason et al. synthesized natural rubber and poly(methyl methacrylate) (NR-g-PMMA), compounded with cassava starch and studied the curing characteristics of the compound. They observed that the tensile strength, elongation at break and tear strength were decreased with the increasing levels of the cassava starch [1]. Nakason et al. [2] in their separate study prepared maleated natural rubber (MNR), blended with cassava starch and investigated rheological properties and curing characteristics. Liu et al. modified starch paste (MST) with polybutylacrylate (PBA) and used it as a reinforcing filler for natural rubber (NR). They observed that unmodified starch filler acts as a non-reinforcing filler and decreases of tensile strength, tear strength and elongation at break. Whereas, MST acts as reinforcing filler and increases tensile strength, elongation at break and * Sambhu Bhadra, ; | 1R&D, Ceat Ltd., Halol, Gujarat 389350, India. SN Applied Sciences (2019) 1:1554 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1625-7 Vol.:(0123456789) Research Article SN Applied Sciences (2019) 1:1554 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-1625-7 tear strength besides modulus and hardness because of better and strong interfacial interaction in NR/MST composites [3]. Tang et al. modified starch with resorcinol‐formaldehyde and N-β(aminoethyl)-γ-aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (KH792) and then compounded in styrene‐butadiene‐rubber (SBR). They observed the improvement in mechanical properties, which was comparable with that of carbon black reinforced composite [4, 5]. Ping et al. prepared rubber/starch composites by directly mixing and co‐coagulating rubber latex and starch paste. The composites exhibited higher hardness, stress at 100%, tensile strength, and tear strength compared to the rubber/starch composites prepared by direct blending [6]. Li et al. synthesized three types of modified starches (MST); starch-g-poly(butyl acrylate) (ST-g-PBA), starch-g-poly (methyl methacrylate) (ST-gPMMA) and starch-g-polystyrene (ST-g-PS) latexes by emulsion polymerization and then compounded with styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) latex in order to prepare MST/SBR compounds and then investigated characteristics, morphology, swelling, mechanical and dynamic mechanical properties. There was improvement in dispersion and mechanical properties because of the modification of starch [7]. Li et al. [8] studied the effect of coupling agents in the poly (methyl methacrylate)-modified starch/styrene-butadiene rubber interfaces and reported the improvement in reinforcement because of the presence of coupling agent. Angeller et al. [9, 10] prepared nano composite from NR latex and waxy maize starch nanocrystals and found significant improvement in barrier properties, mechanical properties and relaxed modulus. Corvasce et al. [11–13] developed starch/ plasticizer filled rubber compound for application in tire tread compound which significantly reduces rolling loss. Paul et al. prepared rubber composites containing a combination of starch, modified starch and/or starch/ plasticizer composite together with selected methylene donor and/or methylene acceptor compounds for low rolling resistance tire application [14, 15]. Haghighat et al. added α‐cellulose powder to styrene–butadiene rubber (SBR) rubber and physico-mechanical properties were measured. They observed the increase in Young’s modulus, hardness, and compression set and decrease in elongation and resilience with increasing α‐cellulose loading in the composites, whereas tensile strength, tear strength, and abrasion resistance initially increased at low α‐cellulose concentration (5 phr), after which these properties decreased with increasing α‐cellulose content [16]. Zhang et al. synthesized surface-acetylated cellulose powder (SACP) and incorporated in NR based Vol:.(1234567890) compound. They observed the improvement in mechanical properties of the composite because of the acetylation of cellulose [17]. Cao et al. prepared carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber (XSBR)/cellulose nanocrystals (CNs) latex composites and investigated morphology, dynamic viscoelastic behavior, dynamic mechanical property, thermal and mechanical properties. The composites exhibited a significant enhancement in tensile strength and tear strength with 0 to 15 phr of CNs loading [18]. Abraham et al. separated cellulose nanofibres (CNF) from raw ban (...truncated)