Journal of Rubber Research最新文献

{"title":"Effect of lignin biopolymer, microfibre, and rubber matrix on the mechanical, fatigue, dielectric, and electromagnetic shielding properties of composites","authors":"Sunil Padhiyar,&nbsp;Jayesh Parikh,&nbsp;Dhandapany sendil Kumar,&nbsp;Yousef A. Baker Ei-Ebiary,&nbsp;Sachitanand Singh,&nbsp;N. Nagabhooshanam,&nbsp;Medapati Sreenivasa Reddy,&nbsp;A. Saravanan","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00349-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00349-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This research investigates the mechanical, fatigue, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and dielectric properties of rubber-based composites reinforced with a combination of flax microfibres and palm kernel shell lignin. The study evaluates the effect of incorporating these natural reinforcements on the composite’s overall performance. The results indicate that the RFL2 composite, containing 3% volume fraction of lignin biopolymer, exhibits the most superior properties. Its tensile strength increased from 19 MPa to 29 MPa, and its tear strength improved from 42 MPa to 56 MPa, suggesting enhanced load distribution and resistance to crack propagation. The hardness of the RFL2 composite also rose to 48 Shore-D, signifying increased rigidity. Furthermore, RFL2 showed significantly improved durability under cyclic loading, with a fatigue life of 12,453 cycles at 25% of ultimate tensile strength (UTS), demonstrating superior matrix-fibre interaction. In terms of electromagnetic properties, RFL2 achieved high EMI shielding effectiveness of 24.16 dB at 8 GHz and 52.36 dB at 18 GHz, indicating that lignin enhances both wave absorption and reflection. The composite also displayed optimal energy dissipation and charge storage capacity, with a dielectric permittivity of 3.66 and a dielectric loss of 0.60. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis confirmed these findings by revealing excellent interfacial bonding and uniform filler dispersion. In conclusion, the RFL2 composite stands out as a high-performance material with potential applications in electrical, structural, and protective industries due to its exceptional properties.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"159 - 170"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686677","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of coating degradation on the durability of rubber-to-metal bonds in corrosive salt environments","authors":"Ismaliza Ismail,&nbsp;Ruslimie Che Ali,&nbsp;Asrul Mustafa,&nbsp;Suhawati Ibrahim,&nbsp;Mohd Azmeel Adli Amiruddin","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00352-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00352-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The use of rubber-metal components in various engineering structures, including bridges, offshore platforms, buildings, and automotive parts, is widespread. A strong rubber-to-metal bond is critical to ensuring long-term product reliability. However, environmental factors such as moisture and corrosion can progressively weaken this bond. This study investigates the performance of bonded rubber to a mild steel substrate using three industrial bonding agents (Bonding Systems A, B and C) under corrosive conditions and the degradation of the coating contributes to the loss of adhesion. The bond durability tests were performed using a salt spray test and an alkaline resistance test. The chemical changes within the bonding agents were monitored using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. In salt spray tests, all bonded systems failed, with delay times of 25 h for Bonding Systems A and B and 144 h for System C, indicating that Bonding System C has higher resistance to corrosion reactions. An alkaline environment led to a significant degradation of the functional groups of the bonding system, except for Bonding System B. However, the results indicate that these chemical changes do not necessarily result in an immediate loss of adhesion. This suggests that chemical degradation of the polymer alone is not a sufficient indicator of coating performance, as the integrity of the interface can be maintained despite changes occurring at the molecular level.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 2","pages":"195 - 204"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148009507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diversity characteristics of soil microbial communities in intercropping rubber plantations","authors":"Chunmei Zhao,&nbsp;Jinku Li,&nbsp;Chen He,&nbsp;Xiaobo Li,&nbsp;Wentao Peng","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00351-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00351-8","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>This study examined how intercropping rubber (<i>Hevea brasiliensis</i>) with sharpleaf galangal (<i>Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.</i>), coffee (<i>Coffea arabica L.</i>), and kinggrass (<i>Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.</i> × <i>Pennisetum glaucum</i> (<i>L.</i>) <i>R.Br.</i>) affects soil properties and microbial communities in rubber plantations. Using Illumina MiSeq sequencing, we analyzed soil bacterial and fungal community structures under different intercropping treatments and examined their relationships with soil physicochemical factors. The results showed that intercropping significantly altered soil moisture, organic carbon, and available phosphorus/potassium, as well as total phosphorus/potassium content. However, it did not considerably affect pH or nitrogen content. PCoA analysis revealed significant differences in soil bacterial and fungal community characteristics between intercropped rubber plantations and pure rubber plantations, with higher richness and diversity of bacterial communities (34 identified phyla, including dominant groups like Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteria) in intercropped rubber plantations and lower diversity of fungal communities (17 phyla, dominated by Ascomycota, Basidiomycota) compared to the control. Notably, intercropping reduced the abundance of dominant fungal groups but increased that of some unknown fungal taxa. Correlation analysis of the abundance of bacterial genera and soil physicochemical properties revealed that soil pH, organic carbon, moisture, available phosphorus, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus were the primary factors influencing the microbial community structure in rubber plantations. Notably, a higher correlation was observed between fungal communities and physicochemical factors than between bacterial communities and these factors. These results demonstrate that intercropping can effectively modify soil nutrient profiles and microbial communities in rubber plantations. In cultivation management, the strategic selection of intercropping partners can enhance soil fertility, improve crop productivity, and boost plantation resilience through targeted management of the microbial community. This study provides valuable insights for developing sustainable rubber plantation management through optimized intercropping patterns.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 2","pages":"181 - 194"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148009088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Creep, fatigue and dynamic mechanical properties of a polymer-based metamaterial reinforced by waste rubber particles","authors":"Anumula Swarnalatha,&nbsp;Seeniappan Kaliappan,&nbsp;L. Natrayan,&nbsp;M. Ramya","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00353-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00353-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study underscores the potential of recycled materials as effective reinforcing agents in advanced composite fabrication, with a particular focus on waste rubber powder recovered from end-of-life tyres. Beyond addressing pressing environmental concerns, this sustainable approach enhances key mechanical properties, fatigue, creep, and dynamic mechanical performance, making the resulting composites highly suitable for morphing wing applications in UAVs. Using a conventional hand lay-up process, vinyl ester composites were reinforced with aluminised glass fibre, a PET core, and varying contents of waste rubber powder, followed by mechanical evaluation in accordance with relevant ASTM standards. Experimental findings revealed that the composite containing 1 vol% filler (VAR1) delivered the most balanced performance, achieving outstanding fatigue lives of 26,814 cycles at 25% UTS, 25,197 cycles at 50% Universal Tensile strength (UTS), and 24,917 cycles at 75% UTS, along with superior creep resistance of 0.0037 at 5000 s, 0.0127 at 10,000 s, and 0.0340 at 15,000 s. Furthermore, post-fatigue scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis provided detailed insights into the surface topography and failure mechanisms of the composites. Among all formulations, the VAR2 composite exhibited the most favourable thermal behaviour, showing controlled PET crystallisation and stable melting characteristics, indicating improved interfacial interactions and thermal stability due to optimal rubber incorporation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 2","pages":"205 - 214"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148008862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Zinc oxide nanorod-based elastomeric composites with enhanced oil resistance and flex crack resistance for oil seal applications","authors":"Asha Paul,&nbsp;Deepthi Anna David,&nbsp;P. K. Bipinbal,&nbsp;Leya Rose Raphael,&nbsp;A. P. Sameeha,&nbsp;Sari P. Sasidharan,&nbsp;Prasanth Raghavan","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00341-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00341-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Oil seals, widely used in hydraulic systems, pump connections, and pistons, should offer durability, high sealing performance, and exhibit a self-lubricating effect. These seals are typically made from lightweight materials that resist hardening or softening during their service life. Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) is the most commonly employed elastomer in oil seals manufacturing due to its excellent resistance to petroleum-based oils. Additionally, NBR-based products exhibit notable flex crack resistance. The judicious incorporation of nanofillers at lower loadings, rather than high quantities of conventional fillers, can further enhance performance while retaining the lightweight nature. In this work, zinc oxide nanorods (ZNR) were synthesised and incorporated into NBR to achieve multiple advantages in cure characteristics, mechanical properties, crosslink density, dynamic mechanical properties, oil resistance, and flex crack resistance. Remarkably, all these improvements could be achieved using only half the amount of conventional zinc oxide typically used in NBR formulations. This approach not only preserves material performance but also mitigates the harmful effects of zinc contamination from rubber products on humans, animals, and aquatic life. Furthermore, the role of nano zinc oxide on NBR-carbon black composites was systematically evaluated and compared with conventional NBR-carbon black composites with twice the zinc oxide loading, confirming the superior efficiency of ZNR.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"57 - 72"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686683","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of water and temperature ageing on silane surface-treated pineapple fibre-waste micro rubber vinyl ester composite","authors":"Seeniappan Kaliappan,&nbsp;T. Mothilal,&nbsp;M. Ramya,&nbsp;S. Saravanakumar,&nbsp;Arul Kulandaivel,&nbsp;Vinayagam Mohanavel,&nbsp;Manickam Ravichandran,&nbsp;Manzoore Elahi M. Soudagar","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00345-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00345-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Fibre-reinforced polymer composites (FRPCs) are widely used in structural and semi-structural applications across various engineering fields. While previous drilling research on FRPCs has largely focused on optimising processing conditions to enhance hole quality, limited attention has been given to the interplay between drilling parameters, material properties, and production methods. This study investigates high-speed drilling of silane-treated pineapple fibre and waste micro rubber-reinforced vinyl ester composites under thermal (50 °C for 7, 14, and 30 days) and water ageing (room temperature for 7, 14, and 30 days) conditions. Post-drilling analysis examined common defects such as fibre delamination, matrix cracking, degradation, fibre swelling, burning, and edge tearing using an optical microscope. Results show that silane surface treatment with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane significantly reduced drilling-induced damage under temperature ageing conditions, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving composite durability and machinability. These highly stable treated composites could be used in automotive, aerospace, and structural applications where large drill holes and fasteners are needed to be fixed to join the structural member temporarily and permanently.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"117 - 128"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686679","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Colloidal properties of deproteinised natural rubber latex","authors":"Roslim Ramli,&nbsp;Asrul Mustafa,&nbsp;Shamsul Kamaruddin,&nbsp;Mohamad Akmal Abdul Rahim,&nbsp;Ruslimie Che Ali,&nbsp;Siti Shuhada Shuib,&nbsp;Mohamad Khairul Akmal Amran,&nbsp;Muhammad Afiq Misri,&nbsp;Sajit Anandevan Sunderasan,&nbsp;Fatimah Rubaizah Mohd Rasdi","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00346-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00346-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study evaluates the effectiveness of producing deproteinised natural rubber (DPNR) latex from fresh field latex and commercial low-ammonia (LATZ) latex through enzymatic treatments at room temperature and heat-assisted methods, combined with two concentration processes: centrifugation and membrane separation. The study showed that both room temperature and heat-assisted treatments, in combination with either centrifugation or membrane separation, effectively removed proteins, thereby enhancing the purity of the latex. The physicochemical properties of all types of DPNR latex were evaluated, showing total solid content ranging from 61 to 63%, dry rubber content between 60 and 62%, alkalinity from 0.60 to 0.67%, viscosity between 80 and 120 cP, and volatile fatty acid levels from 0.02 to 0.06%. Rheological studies indicated that DPNR latex exhibits shear-thinning behaviour, with lower viscosity at higher shear rates. Viscoelastic evaluations revealed that DPNR latex exhibited predominantly viscous behaviour, with reduced elasticity at higher strain levels. These properties suggest that DPNR latex is comparable to commercial LATZ latex. However, further optimization is needed to enhance the mechanical stability time of the latex for industrial applications.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"129 - 144"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors affecting and forecasting of natural and synthetic rubber production in China","authors":"Yu Song,&nbsp;Kun-Yao Zheng,&nbsp;Ghee-Thean Lim","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00347-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00347-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>China's rubber industry faces a persistent supply–demand gap, relying heavily on imports. This study examines the factors affecting and forecasting natural and synthetic rubber production in China (1993–2024) using ARDL, NARDL, and Prophet models. NARDL results reveal significant asymmetric effects: synthetic rubber is particularly sensitive to short-run price fluctuations, while natural rubber exhibits long-run asymmetrically; —lagged price increases reduce output due to smallholder constraints, whereas lagged price declines stimulate production. Furthermore, the study finds that rainfall positively affects natural rubber production in the long run; synthetic rubber demonstrates short-run vulnerability to rainfall deficits. ARDL results suggest a complementary link between both rubber types. Forecasts generated by the Prophet model reveal cyclical trends for natural rubber, driven by environmental factors, and stable growth in synthetic rubber, supported by technology. Recommended policy interventions include price stabilisation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and industry collaboration. Ultimately, this study provides a framework for understanding agricultural production under complex market and environmental pressures.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"145 - 157"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of carbon nanotubes modified with 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide on the mechanical properties of natural rubber/ethylene propylene diene monomer (NR-EPDM) blend composites","authors":"S. Vishvanathperumal,&nbsp;K. Sakthivel","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00344-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00344-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), particularly when surface-functionalized, offer great potential for enhancing the mechanical and swelling resistance properties of natural rubber/ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (NR–EPDM) composites. In this work, pristine CNTs and 1-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide-functionalized CNTs (HDMIM-Br@CNTs) were incorporated into the NR–EPDM matrix at loadings up to 8 phr using conventional melt mixing. The curing characteristics were analyzed using an oscillating disc rheometer, while the composites were evaluated for tensile strength, hardness, rebound resilience, abrasion resistance, compression set, crosslink density, and swelling resistance. Increasing CNT loading elevated cure torque and reduced curing time, indicating enhanced filler–rubber interaction. For unmodified CNT-filled composites, the tensile strength, 100% modulus, and tear strength improved by 25%, 26%, and 22%, respectively, with optimum performance at 6 phr. Beyond this level, agglomeration led to reduced mechanical strength and elongation at break. In contrast, HDMIM-Br@CNT-filled composites exhibited superior performance, with peak improvements of 32% in tensile strength, 35% in modulus, and 25% in tear strength compared to the unfilled blend. Swelling resistance also improved notably due to enhanced crosslink density and restricted polymer mobility. The findings confirm that HDMIM-Br functionalization enhances CNT dispersion and interfacial adhesion, thereby significantly improving the overall performance of NR–EPDM composites.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"93 - 116"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of N-Cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide-grafted halloysite nanotubes on the performance of NBR/SBR composites","authors":"S. Vishvanathperumal","doi":"10.1007/s42464-026-00342-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s42464-026-00342-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were chemically functionalized with the vulcanization accelerator N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazole sulfenamide (CZ) to prepare CZ-grafted HNTs (HNTs-s-CZ), which were incorporated into acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)/styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) blends. The chemical grafting of the accelerator at the filler–rubber interface promoted stronger filler–matrix interaction and facilitated the formation of a compact interfacial polymer network. Compared with unmodified HNTs and physically mixed CZ systems, the HNTs-s-CZ filled composites exhibited superior curing and mechanical performance. Notably, tensile strength was enhanced by 147% with HNTs and further increased to 186% with HNTs-s-CZ. While elongation at break and rebound resilience decreased with increasing nanotube content, properties such as tear strength, hardness, and abrasion resistance improved correspondingly. Overall, HNTs-s-CZ reinforced composites demonstrated significantly better performance than those containing pristine HNTs, confirming the effectiveness of the chemical grafting strategy.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":662,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Rubber Research","volume":"29 1","pages":"73 - 92"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-02-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147686685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}