Natural rubber materials reinforced with cellulose fibres have been studied with respect to crosslink density, tensile strength and stress relaxation. The fibres have been grafted with butadiene or divinylbenzene by plasma treatment. Chemiluminescence analysis was used to indicate the grafting on the surface of the cellulose fibres and also to estimate the effect of the plasma on the cellulose fibres. The results indicate the possibility of obtaining a surface layer on the fibres, which is a conceivable way of improving the mechanical properties of rubber composites.
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