Aging and Degradation Properties of Nanocellulose/Carboxylated Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (XNBR) Latex Films

Abstract

Carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) is widely used in glove manufacturing due to its exceptional properties. However, the limited biodegradability of XNBR gloves has raised environmental concerns, driving the need for sustainable material innovations. This study explores the potential of cellulose-based fillers to enhance the biodegradation process. Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) were extracted from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) and incorporated as fillers into XNBR latex to evaluate their impact on biodegradation across various crosslinking systems. The latex films were prepared with sulfur crosslinking (XNBR-control) and without sulfur crosslinking, utilizing different formulations (CNF, CNF-ZnO, CNF-ZDEC, and CNF-sulfur). These films were subjected to aging tests and soil burial experiments to assess their performance. Tensile properties and crosslink density were measured to understand the effects of aging, while biodegradation was monitored at intervals of 2, 4, and 8 weeks during soil burial. Analytical techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, mass loss measurements, and surface morphology analysis were employed to characterize the degradation process. The results revealed that incorporating CNF significantly improved the biodegradation rate of XNBR latex films. Notably, films prepared without sulfur crosslinking degraded faster than those with sulfur crosslinking, highlighting the influence of crosslinking chemistry on biodegradability. This study demonstrates that integrating nanocellulose from agricultural waste like OPEFB into XNBR latex provides an effective pathway to enhance environmental sustainability in glove manufacturing.