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The addition of rubber powder (RP) to natural rubber (NR) matrix using the dry mixing method leads to uneven distribution and poor interface bonding while the wet mixing method is not feasible due to the hydrophobic nature of the RP surface. To address this issue, we developed a method for producing RP with weakened hydrophobicity on the surface by high‐pressure waterjet and successfully achieved even distribution of the waterjet‐produced rubber powders (WPRPs) in NR and strong interface adhesion between WPRPs and NR by the wet mixing method. The properties of NR/WPRP composites were tested and characterized carefully. When adding 6 phr of 140‐mesh WPRPs in the NR matrix, the tensile strength and elongation at break of the NR/WPRP composites were 30.2 MPa and 627.2%, respectively, which were 4% and 7% higher than NR without WPRPs. Moreover, the anti‐abrasion property of the NR/WPRP composite was also strengthened by the addition of WPRPs. Our findings demonstrate that recycling waste rubber through a reasonable recycling method can not only reduce material waste and alleviate environmental pollution but also enhance the performance of the raw rubber, which offers significant economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotube (CNT), as reinforcing agents in natural rubber (NR), has gained a large amount of consideration due to their excellent properties. Uniform dispersion of CNT is the key to obtaining high-performance NR nanocomposites. In this contribution, a novel ultrasonic grinding dispersion method of CNT with waterjet-produced rubber powder (WPRP) as a carrier is proposed. Microscopic morphologies show that a Xanthium-like structure with WPRP as the core and CNTs as the spikes is formed, which significantly improves the dispersion of CNT in the NR matrix and simultaneously strengthens the bonding of the WPRP and NR matrix. With the increase in the WPRP loading, the Payne effect of CNT/WPRP/NR composites decreases, indicating the effectiveness of the dispersion method. The vulcanization MH and ML value and crosslinking density increase with the increase in the WPRP loading, whereas the scorch time and cure time exhibit a decreasing trend when the WPRP loading is less than 15 phr. It is found that the CNT/WPRP/NR composites filled with 5 phr WPRP have a 4% increase in 300% modulus, a 3% increase in tensile strength, while a 5% decrease in Akron abrasion loss, compared to CNT/NR composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]