Abstract - Visualisation of the Network Structure in Some Environmentally Degraded Natural Rubber Gloves


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	Publications of MRB Latest Publications MRB Digest Journal of Rubber Research 4^th Qtr 2008 Vol 11(4) 3^rd Qtr 2008 Vol 11(3) 2^nd Qtr 2008 Vol 11(2) 1^st Qtr 2008 Vol 11(1) 4^th Qtr 2007 Vol 10(4) 3^rd Qtr 2007 Vol 10(3) 2^nd Qtr 2007 Vol 10(2) 1^st Qtr 2007 Vol 10(1) 1^st Qtr 2006 Vol 9(1) 2^nd Qtr 2006 Vol 9(2) 3^rd Qtr 2006 Vol 9(3) 4^th Qtr 2006 Vol 9(4) Submit paper/article Order Form	Abstract Visualisation of the Network Structure in Some Environmentally Degraded Natural Rubber Gloves M. Asrul, R.T. Davies and A. Ikram Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques involving swollen rubber samples in a polymerised matrix were used to characterise the network structure of natural rubber glove pieces, which had been degraded in soils and in compost. TEM analysis of changes in the network structure of the rubber latex particles was used together with Fourier Transform InfraredAttenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy to study various stages of degradation. The extent of degradation was visualised as the breakdown of the rubber latex particles into a loose network of chain structures, with the accompaniment of considerable reduction in the number of cis double bonds and the emergence of oxygenated structures. These observations however could not be related to the actual physical loss in mass of degraded materials, indicating that the degradation process did not occur uniformly on any given piece of material left to decompose. back
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