Enhanced mechanical properties of radiation vulcanized natural rubber latex by using t-butyl hydroperoxide

Abstract

The mechanical properties of both radiation (RVNRL) and peroxide vulcanized natural rubber latex (PVNRL) are low when compared to sulphur prevulcanized natural rubber latex (SVNRL). This paper deals with the effect of peroxide on the mechanical properties of radiation vulcanized NR latex film. Here, n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) was used as sensitizer and t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHPO) as co-vulcanizing agent during irradiation. It was found that the addition of t-BHPO is more practical method to reduce the vulcanization dose. Thermal ageing study showed that the best retention in tensile properties was shown by RIPV vulcanizates.