Construction of multifunctional carboxylated nitrile butadiene composite films: Integration of degradability, antioxidant and antibacterial functions

Abstract

Aiming at the main application bottlenecks of long degradation cycle and poor antibacterial property of disposable carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber (XNBR) gloves, APS-iron (APS-Fe) chelate was employed as a multifunctional modifier to prepare XNBR/APS-Fe composite films through compounding and vulcanization processes. Utilizing APS-Fe's dual properties (metal-catalyzed aging and biodegradability), we established a “catalysis-biology” dual-driven rapid degradation system. The service life of the XNBR/1.5APS-Fe composite film to reach the 75% threshold of fracture retention at 25 °C was only 4.34 years, significantly shorter than its natural degradation cycle. With the synergistic effect of the active groups of APS and Fe³⁺, the composite film exhibited remarkably enhanced scavenging capacity for hydroxyl radicals and DPPH radicals, effectively addressing the shortcoming of weak antibacterial property of pure XNBR. The antibacterial capacity of XNBR/1.5APS-Fe against Escherichia coli was prominent, 11.4 times higher than that of pure XNBR. Additionally, the mechanical properties and solvent resistance of XNBR films were also improved. The novel composite film combines excellent properties such as degradability, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial safety. These findings provide a scientific and practical solution for the development of functional disposable rubber products.