Reinforcement effect of biomass carbon and protein in elastic biocomposites

Biomass carbon (BC) and soy protein (SP) were used to reinforce natural rubber (NR) biocomposites. The particle size of BC was reduced and characterized with elemental analysis, X‐ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and particle size analysis. The rubber composite reinforced with the BC/SP and the composite reinforced with the BC of higher carbon content show useful tensile properties at an optimum filler fraction. The model analysis of the stress–strain behaviors provides insight into filler network characteristics. For the highly filled composites, the BC have less constraint on the polymer chains as shown by the temperature and frequency dependent modulus as well as the model analysis of stress softening effect. The presence of NR protein improves the filler–polymer adhesion for the composites reinforced with BC/SP. POLYM. COMPOS., 2013.