Preparation and Performance of High Bio-Based and Abrasion-Resistant Tread Rubber Based on Itaconate Rubber

The itaconate rubber, as a novel bio-based rubber, holds significance for the sustainable development of synthetic rubber. Guided by the development of tread materials with high bio-based content and high abrasion resistance, a study was conducted on the formulation of composites based on poly (dibutyl itaconate-co-butadiene) (PDBIB). In this paper, based on bio-based itaconate rubber, bio-based silica and lignin/zinc oxide (lignin/ZnO) were used to obtain rubber composites with a bio-based content of 72%. The tensile strength of itaconate rubber composite reinforced by bio-based silica can reach 18 MPa; lignin/ZnO has a good effect on the aging performance of rubber composites, which results the aging factor being increased from 0.49 to 0.62. In order to further improve its abrasion resistance as a tire, we introduced carbon nanotubes to increase its abrasion resistance by 7%, and analyzed the mechanism for the improvement of its abrasion resistance. In summary, this research provides a comprehensive analysis into the use of itaconate rubber in tread application, resulting in a high bio-based and abrasion-resistant tread rubber composite. This work offers strategic insights for the development of bio-based green tires for New Energy Vehicles.