EFFECT OF PULVERIZED SILICA AND RADIATION DOSE ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF RADIATION (GAMMA-RADIATION) VULCANIZED NATURAL RUBBER LATEX FILM

Abstract

A study of the effect of pulverized silica on the properties of radiation vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) film has been done. Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex was done by using Co-60 gamma radiator at room temperature using n-butyl acrylate (n-BA) as sensitizer. The additives (pulverized silica and n-BA) were blended with NR latex just before irradiation. It was found that both silica concentrations and radiation doses were important for the improvement of the tensile and swelling properties of natural rubber latex film. The tensile strength, tear strength and gel content were found increasing and the elongation at break, permanent set and swelling ratio of rubber film were found decreasing with increasing concentration of silica and also increase in absorbed doses. The optimum radiation dose and silica concentration were found at 12 kGy and 1.0 phr respectively which showed the tensile strength 12.77 MPa and tear strength 52.97 N/mm.