For the development of antistatic rubber rollers, we prepared acrylonitrile-butadiene rubbers (NBR)/polyether-based electrolyte blends by mechanical mixing method with different polymerization conditions. The effects of different humidity environment and morphology on the ion-conductive behavior were revealed using DC conductivity measurement system and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The TEM images showed that the nano-ordered phase separated structure in the blends is formed before the polymerization. The sea-island phase separated structure of the blends could be controlled by polymerization conditions. We also found that there is a crucial relation between the conductive behavior under different humidity conditions and morphology, and the micro-phase separated structure with 10-20 nm-size of polyether islands give rise to the decrease in the difference between conductivities measured in wet and dry conditions. We also prepared vulcanized or cross-linked NBR blends using sulfur or organic peroxide as polymerization initiator. The cross-linked blends with nano-ordered phase separated structure were obtained, which shows good antistatic performance even in the humid condition. In addition, we prepared a plot type rubber roller using the NBR/polyether-based electrolyte blend, and it worked well as an actual printer roller.

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), which are bundles of semi-crystalline extended cellulose chains, show diameters in the range of 3 to 100 nm and have very high specific strength, good thermal stability, and so on. CNFs-reinforced natural rubber (NR) nanocomposites were prepared by mixing water suspension of CNFs with NR latex using a homogenizer. Then, those were dried in an oven and mixed again with vulcanizing ingredients using an open roll mixer. Furthermore, the composites were mixed with chemical foaming agents to prepare foamed rubbers using an open roll mixer. Foamed rubbers having uniform and fine cells could be obtained by uniformly dispersing CNFs in the composites. As a result, dimensional stability of foamed rubbers containing CNFs was higher than that of foamed rubbers containing inorganic fillers, since the cell walls of foamed rubbers were efficiently reinforced by CNFs. This review summarizes the research works on the preparation and characteristics of CNFs-reinforced rubber nanocomposites and their application to the sport shoes.

Dielectric Elastomer (DE) has a very simple structure comprised of polymer films (elastomers) sandwiched by two electrodes made of a flexible and elastic material, and can operate as an electric control actuator.
The operating principle is to use the horizontal deformation of elastomers that is a consequence of the synergistic combination of an electrostatic force and a repulsive force between the electrodes generated when a voltage difference is applied between the two electrodes.
Using a DE actuator makes it possible to achieve a highly efficient transduction from electric energy into mechanical energy (the theoretical transduction efficiency is 80-90%), which translates into a considerable energy saving compared to other actuator technologies such as electric motors with gearboxes. At the material level, this material has fast speed of response (over 100,000 Hz has been demonstrated for small strains), with a high strain rate (up to 600%), high pressure (up to 8 MPa), and power density of 1 W/g (for comparison, human muscle is 0.2 W/g and an electric motor with gearbox is 0.05 W/g).
The generator mode in DE uses the actuator mode process in reverse, transforming mechanical energy originating from the physical deformation of the elastomer film into electrical energy.

Belt separation, the final stage of belt edge crack growth, is discussed to illustrate the influence of tire aging to durability. The resistance to crack propagation of aged rubbers correlates well with extension ratio at break λ_b, which is considered to represent the extent of crosslinking due to oxidative aging. Resistance to crack propagation falls with decreasing λ_b, i. e., with crosslinking during aging. Consequently, aging of tire causes deterioration of resistance to belt separation.
Reduced oxygen permeation through tire wall, by means of nitrogen inflation and use of halogenated butyl rubber for inner liner, leads to better durability. It is also found that lower temperature mixing leads to better aging resistance and tire durability.