Eco-friendly hybrid biocomposites of natural rubber, carbon black and dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS) derived biocarbon

Biomass derived carbonaceous filler (biocarbon) is a promising sustainable alternative with enhanced economic and environmental benefits. A systematic study was conducted with carbon black (CB), biocarbon (BC) and a hybrid filler of both (BC-CB), in a natural rubber matrix. The sustainable biocarbon was prepared through pyrolysis of Dried distillers’ grain with solubles (DDGS), a co-product from the corn ethanol industry. The hybrid composite showed intermediate mechanical properties to those of carbon black and biocarbon composites but was improved as compared to the natural rubber vulcanizate. The mechanical properties of biocarbon, carbon black and hybrid composites were correlated through swelling studies. The thermal characterizations showed similar transitions and degradation mechanisms in all the composites, which confirmed a comparatively similar behavior of BC with CB. Moreover, the hybrid composite possessed moderate filler networking, and hence lower rolling resistance and higher wet skid resistance than the carbon black vulcanizate, which has potential for tire applications.

Acknowledgements: The author would like to thank the following for their financial support to carry out this work i) the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Maple Leaf Food, Canada and Bank of Montreal (BMO), Canada through Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) Bioproducts AgSci Cluster Program (Project Nos. 054015, 054449 and 800148); ii) the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)/University of Guelph - Bioeconomy for Industrial Uses Research Program (Project Nos. 030331 and 030332); and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canada Discovery Grants (Project Nos. 401111 and 400320).