Preparation of high-performance natural rubber composites: Plasma-foaming agent-modified kaolin and flash-drying technology

A combination of plasma-foaming double dispersion method, flash drying technology, and potassium oleate (PO), a plasma- and environmentally-friendly foaming agent, were used to modify kaolin. The use of high-energy plasma disrupts the stacking agglomeration formed between kaolinite lamellae, increases the contact area between the lamellae, and PO reduces the polarity of kaolinite to realize the effective surface modification of kaolinite. PO decreases the polarity of kaolin and weakens the strength of the interfacial bonds formed between kaolin and rubber. Modified kaolin and natural latex are deposited on the surface of high-temperature rollers for instant drying, and a decrease in the contents of non-rubber components, such as proteins and phospholipids accompanies the progress of the rapid drying process. Thus, the gas barrier performance of the composite was higher than that of the traditional dry blend by 42.9%. The tensile strength of the prepared composite was higher than that of the traditional blend by 9%, and the aging coefficient of the fabricated composite was higher than that of the traditional blend by 45.5%. Herein, a new environmentally friendly and energy-saving method has been proposed for the fabrication of natural rubber composites characterized by excellent gas-tightness using natural mineral resources.