The exploration of bio-based process aid is still ongoing in the effort to replace petroleum-based process oil. In this study, the efficacy of a newly developed palm-based process aid (Bio) on nitrile rubber (NBR) composites was investigated by varying its concentration from 0.0 to 10.0 phr. A comparison was made against a commercial oil (CO), i.e. naphthenic oil in terms of Mooney viscosity, cure characteristics, morphology, physical, and chemical properties. Results revealed that the use of Bio as process aid improves the processability of rubber by lowering the Mooney viscosity, enhancing filler dispersion, and lowering loss tangent values. Tensile properties and compression sets of CO-NBR composites were slightly better compared to Bio-NBR composites. Interestingly, Bio-NBR composites showed better ageing properties, especially at higher process aid content. Higher retentions of tensile strength and elongation at break and lower compression sets of aged Bio-NBR compared to CO-NBR composites were observed, which are possibly contributed by the good compatibility of Bio with aged rubber. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the thermal stability of Bio-NBR composites were slightly better than CO-NBR composites. Based on these findings, the use of Bio (≥ 7.5 phr) as process aid significantly improved the processability of rubber with some enhancement in ageing properties of composites that is desirable and ideal for various applications such as for the production of automotive components.

在替代石油基加工油的努力中，生物基加工助剂的探索仍在进行中。在这项研究中，通过将其浓度从0.0 phr更改为10.0 phr，研究了新开发的基于棕榈的加工助剂（Bio）对丁腈橡胶（NBR）复合材料的功效。在门尼粘度，固化特性，形态，物理和化学性质方面与商品油（CO），即环烷油进行了比较。结果表明，使用生物作为加工助剂可以通过降低门尼粘度，增强填料分散性和降低损耗角正切值来改善橡胶的加工性能。与Bio-NBR复合材料相比，CO-NBR复合材料的拉伸性能和压缩永久变形稍好。有趣的是，Bio-NBR复合材料具有更好的老化性能，特别是在加工助剂含量较高的情况下。与CO-NBR复合材料相比，老化的Bio-NBR复合材料具有更高的拉伸强度和断裂伸长率保持率以及更低的压缩永久变形，这可能是由于Bio与老化的橡胶的良好相容性所致。热重分析表明，Bio-NBR复合材料的热稳定性略好于CO-NBR复合材料。基于这些发现，使用生物（≥7.5 phr）作为加工助剂可显着提高橡胶的加工性能，同时增强复合材料的老化性能，这对于各种应用（例如汽车零部件的生产）都是理想且理想的。这可能是由于Bio与老化橡胶的良好相容性所致。热重分析表明，Bio-NBR复合材料的热稳定性略好于CO-NBR复合材料。基于这些发现，使用生物（≥7.5 phr）作为加工助剂可显着提高橡胶的加工性能，同时增强复合材料的老化性能，这对于各种应用（例如汽车零部件的生产）都是理想且理想的。这可能是由于Bio与老化橡胶的良好相容性所致。热重分析表明，Bio-NBR复合材料的热稳定性略好于CO-NBR复合材料。基于这些发现，使用生物（≥7.5 phr）作为加工助剂可显着提高橡胶的加工性能，同时增强复合材料的老化性能，这对于各种应用（例如汽车零部件的生产）都是理想且理想的。