INFLUENCE OF CELLULOSE AS A FILLER IN VULCANIZED RUBBER COMPOSITES

Composites of elastomers and cellulose have been investigated. Copolym ers of styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and acrylonitrile-butadiene rubb er (NBR) as well as natural rubber (NR) were compounded with regenerat ed cellulose (Cellulose II). The technique for the incorporation of fi ller was based on the coprecipitation of the rubber latex-cellulose xa nthate mixture. Cellulose filler was used in the range of 0 to 30 phr. The best results were shown by the natural rubber-regenerated cellulo se systems. The different behavior of the systems is explained by expe rimental evidence. The reinforcement mechanism for NR compositions, wh ich involves an induced crystallizing rubber (NR), seems to be differe nt from the mechanism for SBR and NBR.