Preparation and characterization of baked nitrile latex foam reinforced with biomasses

Nitrile latex foam was prepared by baking method using a chemical blowing agent along with the addition of fungal starch, calcium carbonate and aspen fiber. The influences of these components on the mechanical properties of latex foams were studied. Different additives showed different enforcement behaviors. Results showed that aspen fiber had the best reinforcement behaviors on the mechanical properties of latex foam. The thermal degradation as well as its foam morphology was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis clearly identified that the latex foam was a composite of the mixture of foam components with nitrile latex film. The result of scanning electron microscopy exhibited that both starch particles and calcium carbonate particles were richly distributed around wood fiber.

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► It is feasible to produce sustainable nitrile latex foams with the reinforcement of starch.
► Wood pulp fiber contributes latex foam with superior tensile and compressive strengths.
► There are no chemical functions between pulp fiber and foam matrix.