Fabrication of biodegradable graphene functionalized amyloid fibril-styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) composite for automobile tyre application

Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), has great fillers and additives collaborative properties as well is most abundantly used in the tyre industry. Here, we have prepared a biodegradable composite of SBR with graphene oxide. SBR/Graphene Oxide/Amyloid Fibril (SBR/GO/ALF) was fabricated by adding 1–3 wt% quantities of biodegradable molecule ALF (Amyloid Fibril) with SB and filler GO. The control samples of SBR/GO and pure SBR was also prepared alongside SBR/GO/ALF for control studies. The composite, as well as control samples, was characterized by different techniques as well as their biodegradability was evaluated. The morphology was improved as was observed by microscopic studies of the SBR/GO/ALF as compared to initiator and control samples. Composite revealed a groove-and-trough surface with the porous feature, showcasing a poor interface between polymeric molecular chains. With further increased ALF amounts, the structural integrity was improved for both SBR/GO/3.0ALF and SBR/GO/2.0ALFsamples, by exhibiting a highly compact feature. However, the sample of SBR/GO/2.0ALF presented better morphology with less aggregated structure compared to SBR/GO/3.0ALF. To be useful for automobile tyre application, it was confirmed improved surface area as the porosity for SBR/GO/2.0ALF is increased. Based on the thermal study, composite is suitable for extreme weather conditions as it had stable heat tolerance behavior. Both mechanical, as well as biodegradable properties of SBR/GO/2.0ALF, showed excellent characteristics. So the future of the green tyre application resides on the fabricated SBR/GO/2.0ALF composite. Thus, the composite of SBR/GO/2.0ALF is promising.