A new technique to gauge the vulcanization kinetics of natural rubber latex using viscosity measurements and the use of the above method to study effects of variation of activator content on vulcanization of NR latex

Abstract

A series of compounded natural rubber (NR) latex samples were prepared with varying amounts of activator contents. Viscosity changes of these samples were monitored with time at two different temperatures (i.e. 30"C and 80°C). These temperatures were selected to cover room temperature and a typical vulcanizing temperature for natural rubber latex based products. Unique pattern of viscosity changes can be observed during the process of vulcanization. There is a possibility of developing viscosity measurement as a way of studying kinetics of vulcanization ofNR latex. This can be treated as a method analog to Rheolgical studies of sulphur vulcanization of dry NR. The variation of activator content showed a significant effect on the viscosity change.