Chitin in Rubber-Based Blends and Microcomposites
摘要
For the survival of mankind, maintaining a clean and green environment is necessary and therefore there is a need to create industrially relevant products that are environmentally friendly. Rubber-based blends are materials produced by combining rubber with other materials or polymers in order to alter or improve their characteristics. Certain qualities, such as strength, flexibility, durability, and chemical resistance, might change as new materials are added. One of nature’s most plentiful resources, chitin is a viable option for reinforcing rubber matrix with several benefits. By serving as a reinforcing filler in rubber blends, chitin can improve mechanical qualities including tensile strength, modulus, and tear resistance. It can also increase the overall functionality of the composite materials when evenly distributed throughout the matrix. Composite materials that include at least one component with dimensions in the microscale typically ranging from micrometres to a few nanometres are referred to as microcomposites. Chitin could have a significant impact on several properties of the rubber blends and microcomposites, offering particular benefits depending on the material’s intended use. This chapter describes the role of chitin in rubber-based blends and microcomposites and its various applications in different fields.