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Most self-healing rubber composites are produced through hydrogen or ionic bonding. In this study, high-strength self-healing composites were prepared by using guar gum (GG) powder as a filler. The fundamental properties of GG were analyzed using various techniques, including scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis, before its use. After incorporating GG into epoxidized natural rubber (ENR), various properties of the rubber composites, including mechanical strength, self-healing efficiency, and biodegradability, were evaluated at different GG concentrations. The results revealed that GG has a structure similar to polysaccharides, containing hydroxy functional groups in its chemical structure. As GG was added to ENR, both hardness and tensile strength increased, with the maximum tensile strength of similar to 1.03 N/mm(2) (approximately 91.3% increase) observed at 3 parts per hundred rubber (phr) of GG. Notably, self-healing efficiency improved with increasing GG content up to 1 phr (approximately an 81.8% increase), after which it began to decrease. In biodegradability tests, the ENR/GG composites exhibited significant degradation over a 360-day soil burial period, with the formulation containing 5 phr of GG showing the highest weight loss (approximately 40.4%). The rubber composites with good self-healing and mechanical properties could have potential applications in various fields, including medical devices and food packaging. Moreover, the unique properties of the composite could be adapted for use in smart materials or flexible electronics, where self-healing and biodegradability can extend device lifetimes and reduce waste.

来源平台：CELLULOSE