Abstract Traditional rubber industries rely heavily on petroleum-based materials, such as carbon black (CB). The present study aims at mitigating the environmental challenges, through partial replacement of CB, while simultaneously consuming an easily accessible agricultural waste. Accordingly, cellulose nanofibre (CNF) was extracted from wheat-straw using chemo-mechanical process, which in-turn was used for fabrication of CNF enabled rubber nanocomposites. Microstructural observation of CNF confirmed nanometric defibrillation of cellulose. A variety of tests were performed on the nanocomposites towards exploring their structure-property correlations, curing-behaviour, thermal degradability and mechanical (static and dynamic) properties. Overall, considerable enhancement in properties such as tensile strength and strain energy density could be realized, owing to synergistic use of CNF and CB in rubber, allowing for replacement of up to 15 phr CB. These were further augmented by significant improvements in dynamic rolling-resistance, traction and stress-softening behaviour. The results were especially significant, considering that the improvements could be achieved without any modification of CNF surface, thereby establishing its potential for development of environment friendly rubber nanocomposites.

中文翻译：

---

纤维素纳米纤维使天然橡胶复合材料：微观结构、固化行为和动态机械性能

摘要 传统橡胶工业严重依赖石油基材料，如炭黑（CB）。本研究旨在通过部分替代 CB 来减轻环境挑战，同时消耗易于获取的农业废物。因此，使用化学机械工艺从小麦秸秆中提取纤维素纳米纤维 (CNF)，进而用于制造具有 CNF 功能的橡胶纳米复合材料。CNF 的微观结构观察证实了纤维素的纳米级除颤。对纳米复合材料进行了各种测试，以探索它们的结构-性能相关性、固化-行为、热降解性和机械（静态和动态）性能。全面的，由于 CNF 和 CB 在橡胶中的协同使用，可以实现拉伸强度和应变能密度等性能的显着提高，可替代高达 15 phr 的 CB。动态滚动阻力、牵引力和应力软化性能的显着改进进一步增强了这些性能。考虑到可以在不对 CNF 表面进行任何改性的情况下实现改进，从而确立其开发环境友好型橡胶纳米复合材料的潜力，结果尤为显着。