Antioxidating and reinforcing effect of polydopamine functionalized silica on natural rubber latex films

Abstract Since the outbreak of COVID‐19, the demand for natural latex products with increased mechanical properties and aging resistance has surged. Based on the excellent adhesion and antioxidant properties of polydopamine (PDA), we employed a one‐pot method to modify the surface of silica substrates using PDA containing a polyphenol structure, to prepare a reinforced silica‐PDA composite latex material with antioxidant properties. As expected, the silica‐PDA composite achieved both uniform dispersion and good interfacial interactions with natural rubber latex (NRL). In addition, compared with common NRL/silica films, the mechanical properties of the NRL/silica‐PDA film were significantly improved; specifically, silica‐PDA can highly‐enhanced the mechanical property of NRL film from 24.94 to 32.18 MPa of tensile strength. Further, the antioxidant activity of the silica‐PDA film exceeded that of commercially available antioxidant D. Considering the notable performance boost of silica‐PDA composites on NRL films, we believe that the treatment of silica with natural polyphenols offers a convenient and facile new route for the preparation of environmentally friendly multifunctional silica additives.