The morphology, rheology, and mechanical properties of the dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer based on EPDM/PP (60/40, w:w) containing 5, 10, and 20% of cellulose short fiber were studied. From the results it was found that addition of 5% of cellulose fiber has no significant effect on the maximum torque associated with the dynamic vulcanization stage, while higher concentration of fibers decreased the maximum torque. These results were explained in terms of influence of cellulose fibers on the extent of agglomeration formed between the cured rubber particles. The results of tensile test performed on the samples showed that incorporation of 5% of cellulose fibers into the sample has an increasing effect on elongation at break with no appreciable change in tensile behavior. However increasing the cellulose fibers content of the sample to 20% had a remarkable change in tensile properties of the sample resulting in a toughened plastic type behavior. The melt elasticity of the sample containing 5% of cellulose fibers particularly at low shear rate range was found to be lower than that of the sample without fibers indicating the role of fibers in weakening of cured rubber particle agglomeration. This was supported with the results of the relaxation time distribution H(k) and scanning electron microscopy of the samples.

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Biodegradable cellulose acetate (CA) membranes were prepared via phase inversion induced by immersion precipitation method. Acetic acid and deionized water were used as solvent and non‐solvent, respectively. The modifying effect of gelatin and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles additives was investigated on the membranes in terms of water flux, protein rejection percentage, and fouling ability during two hours of bovine serum albumin separation from aqueous solution. Specimens were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), tensile test, contact angle technique, and porosity measurement. The incorporation of gelatin and ZnO nanoparticles into the CA matrix increased the porosity coefficient and hydrophilicity. Moreover, gelatin improved the tensile properties of the membrane.