Proper use of rice straw black liquor: lignin/silica derivatives as efficient green antioxidants for SBR rubber

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the efficiency of lignin/silica and calcium lignate/calcium silicate as natural antioxidants in styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) vulcanizates. Design/methodology/approach – It has been found that thermal aging data of the aged sample revealed that SBR vulcanizate undergoes crosslink reactions that lead to embrittlement and ultimately failure. Incorporation of lignin/silica or calcium lignate/calcium silicate, however, resulted in significant improvement of the degradation profile of the vulcanizates at 90±1°C. Loss of tensile strength and flexibility during aging of the SBR compounds with 8 phr lignin/silica or calcium lignate/calcium silicate was mild relative to unfilled polymer, indicating a restricted degradation due to the presence of the investigated compounds. The results obtained revealed that the investigated compounds are good antioxidant, and the evaluation was confirmed by physico-mechanical properties of the vulcanizates, FT-IR spectroscopy, transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscope. Findings – It was noticed that SBR vulcanizates having 8 phr of lignin/silica or calcium lignate/calcium silicate exhibited the best mechanical properties in comparison with other concentrations (1, 2, 4, 6 and 10 phr). Also, results revealed that the lignin/silica derivatives are efficient antioxidants in SBR vulcanizates compared to vulcanizates containing conventional antioxidants used in rubber industry, namely polymerized 2,2,4-trimethyl-1, 2-dihydroquinoline (TMQ), and N-isopropyl-N'-phenyl-P-phenylenediamine (IPPD). Research limitations/implications – All these results indicated that lignin/silica and calcium lignate/calcium silicate in SBR had good heat resistance and aging resistance, calcium lignate/calcium silicate has an application limitation as not all vulcanizates need to use CaCO3/calcium salts. Practical implications – Lignin is usually seen as a waste product of pulp and paper industry and is often used as fuel for the energy balance of the pulping process. It is simple isolation along with silica from rice straw and using it as an antioxidant added further practical utility for this waste. Originality/value – The importance of lignin/silica derivatives is arisen from their biodegradability and their ease availability from rice straw black liquor.