Bio‐Based Oils as an Alternative Rubber Processing Oil in CB/Silica‐Filled NR/BR/SSBR Compounds

• Published in: Macromolecular symposia. Vol. 414; no. 4
• Main Authors: Mohamed, Nur Raihan, Othman, Nadras, Shuib, Raa Khimi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.08.2025
• Subjects: bio‐based oils; Carbon black; Coconut oil; dual fillers system; Dynamic characteristics; Elastomers; Elongation; epoxidized palm oil; Flexibility; Nonrenewable resources; Palm oil; Petroleum; Polymer blends; Rolling resistance; Rubber; Silicon dioxide; Skid resistance; soybean oil; Sunflower oil; Tensile strength; Vegetable oils; Wear resistance
• ISSN: 1022-1360; 1521-3900
• DOI: 10.1002/masy.70081

ABSTRACT Bio‐based oil is emerging as a promising alternative to replace rubber processing oil from petroleum as a plasticizer in elastomers. Petroleum‐based oil is considered environmentally harmful and is derived from nonrenewable resources. This study explores replacing petroleum‐based rubber processing oils with bio‐based oils in elastomers. The research focuses on ternary rubber blends (NR/BR/SSBR) mixed with petroleum‐based oil (RPO), epoxidized palm oil (EPO), coconut oil (CO), soybean oil (SBO), and sunflower oil (SFO), using conventional rubber processing methods. A dual filler system of carbon black and silica was employed to reinforce the rubber. The result shows that among all bio‐based oils, EPO improves both tensile strength (0.7% increase) and elongation at break (7% increase) compared to RPO, along with better wear resistance and skid resistance but prolonged the optimum cure time. In the meantime, CO offers good elongation, wear resistance, and dynamic performance similar to RPO, with a slight decrease in tensile strength. Meanwhile, SBO has the lowest rolling resistance among the bio‐based oils based on Tan δ at 60°C, but it also decreases tensile strength and wear resistance while greatly increasing flexibility (11.2% increase in elongation). Among the bio‐based oils, however, SFO offers a balance with moderate improvements in flexibility and dynamic properties but lower wear resistance.