Study on properties of natural latex foam composites modified by corn straw-derived biomass fiber

Reinforcing fillers play a pivotal role in achieving superior performance of latex foam materials. The corn stalk, as an agricultural by-product, possesses the advantages of abundant availability, renewability, and environmental friendliness. In this study, natural rubber latex foam (NRLF) was prepared using the Dunlop method with the addition of corn stalk (CS) as a reinforcing agent. To further enhance the adhesion between the biomass fiber and matrix, alkali-treated CS/natural rubber latex foam (ACS/ NRLF) was prepared by modifying the CS with a 6% sodium hydroxide solution. The effects of different amounts of CS and ACS on the properties of the composites were investigated. The results demonstrate that loading 5phr of ACS significantly improves mechanical properties such as tensile strength, compressive capacity, recovery rate, and other properties in ACS/NRLF materials. Furthermore, surface treatment of the fiber is shown to greatly enhance material performance. This indicates that CS has great potential in the application of latex foam materials.