Surface Modification of Natural Rubber Latex Film Using Photocrosslinkable Chitosan

Abstract

Surface modifications of natural rubber latex films were carried out to improve the hydrophilicity by UV-induced immobilization of water-soluble butyryl derivative of chitosan using the photosensitive hetero-bifunctional crosslinking reagent, 4-azidobenzoic acid. The effects of the concentration of modified chitosan solution and UV irradiation time on the water contact angle values of natural rubber latex films were studied. ATR-FTIR analyses confirmed that the O-butylrylchitosan molecules were covalently bonded onto the surface of natural rubber latex film. The water contact angle value of natural rubber latex film which is about 95o reduces to 55o significantly with the introduction of O-butylrylchitosan. The results indicate that the hydrophilic behaviour of natural rubber latex film has been improved by immobilization of O-butylrylchitosan.