Scalable fabrication of ultrathin high-strength gloves using oxidized cellulose nanofiber-filled acrylonitrile butadiene rubber

The growing demand for environmentally friendly and sustainable industrial materials has brought natural nanofillers to the forefront of innovation, particularly in the rubber industry. Despite their potential, the use of natural or bio-based nanofillers for reinforcing rubber composites remains limited due to scalability challenges, technological transfer difficulties, and a lack of application-specific innovations. This study presents a straightforward method for fabricating ultra-thin, reinforced nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) composites with a thickness of 0.030 ± 0.002 mm, achieved using an industrially-adapted dipping process. The TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCN)-reinforced NBR demonstrated exceptional tensile strength and elongation, meeting industrial standards for glove applications. At a TOCN loading of 0.10 phr, the tensile strength of the composite increased by 84 % to 26.0 MPa and elongation-at-break of 540 %. The composite was further characterized to assess chemical interactions and surface morphology, confirming minimal agglomeration during formulation and thin-film fabrication. The successful replication of material properties was demonstrated through the fabrication of an ultra-thin glove prototype using the same dipping process, which was subsequently evaluated for its mechanical strength and elongation properties. This study highlights the potential of bio-based fillers for producing high-strength, environmentally sustainable gloves, paving the way for more eco-friendly innovations in the rubber industry.