ABSTRACT Thermal and mechanical properties
of blended radiation prevulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) and low
nitrosamines latex (LNL) were studied. RVNRL was blended with LNL at various
composition ratios. From the tensile test, it was found that the optimum
tensile value was attained at a total blending ratio of 70% RVNRL and 30% LNL.
Latex blending with optimum tensile strength was then subjected to gamma
irradiation at various doses with the presence and absence of methyl
methacrylate (MMA) at 10 pphr. It was found that the gamma irradiation of latex
blend with the presence of MMA could help increase further the tensile value.
Composition of blending at a specific ratio and gamma irradiation at a specific
dose has led to a significant improvement in the mechanical properties of the
latex blend. The formation of grafting in the latex blend was characterized by
Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) spectroscopy and differential
scanning calorimetry (DSC). FTIR spectroscopy confirmed that MMA could be
grafted onto blended latex effectively under appropriate irradiation
conditions. Two new peaks at 1731 and 1149 cm−1 were observed after
irradiation, indicating the presence of an ester group from poly(methyl
methacrylate) (PMMA), which was grafted onto rubber chains. This finding was
proved by the presence of new Tg in DSC analysis. The increase in new Tg
indicates the movement of grafting chains, which are tightly bound onto rubber
chains
