Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex

Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex by low energy electron beams — Use of... 

Polymers are the materials most often treated by radiation. Therefore in the recent past the IAEA has organized Cooordinated Research Projects (CRPs) in closely related areas, namely the stability and stabilization of polymers under irradiation, the radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex, the modification of polymers for biomedical applications such as the radiation synthesis of membranes, hydrogels and adsorbents. 

It has been reported earlier that radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex can be. sensitized by normal butil acrylate (nBA) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ). The irradiated latex can be used for producing rubber goods, such as ballon, and industrial gloves (1-3). 

S. Ono, F. Yoshii, K. Makuuchi and I. Ishigaki, Proceedings of the International Symposium on Radiation Vulcanization of Natural Rubber Latex, Tokyo and Takasaki. JAERI-M 89-228, 1989, p. 198. 

Haque, M.E., Dafader, N.C., Akhtar, F., Ahmad, M.U. Radiation dose required for the vulcanization of natural rubber latex. Radiat Phys. Chem. 48, 505-510 (1996)... 

The prevulcanization of natural rubber in latex form has also been a subject of much investigation. The cross-linking mechanism is not yet fully understood, but the water apparently plays a major role in it. Irradiation results in the cross-linking of the rubber molecules and in coarsening of the latex particles. A process of cross-linking of natural rubber latex has been developed to the point that it can be used for an industrial-scale application. The irradiation is performed in aqueous media by electron beam without a prorad (sensitizer) at a dose of 200 kGy (20 Mrad) or in the presence of n-butyl acrylate at considerably lower doses, typically 15 kGy. The cross-linked film exhibits physical properties comparable to those obtained from sulfur cured (vulcanized) film. As an alternative, the addition of a variety of chloroal-kanes makes it possible to achieve a maximum tensile strength with radiation doses of less than 5 Mrad (50 kGy). ... 

Development of rubber glove production using by radiation vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) or irradiated latex in the pre.sence of 5 phr 2-ethyl acrylate and 1 phr carbon tetrachloride has been done. The combustion... 

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