Abstract - Influence of Thickness and Modulus on the Environmental Degradation of Vulcanised NR Latex Films


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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 Influence of Thickness and Modulus on the Environmental Degradation of Vulcanised NR Latex Films A. Ikram, M.Y. Amir Hashim, M. Asrul and T.S. Tan The microbial degradation of rubber products has been variously linked to curing conditions and rubber formulations, crosslink density, carbon black loading or to rubber shapes. In this study, the degradative behaviour of NR latex films with a range of thicknesses (0.09 mm – 0.79 mm) and varying moduli (8.5 MPa – 16 MPa, at 700% elongation) was examined. Dipped film pieces were buried in soils for 24 weeks and the materials analysed for residual mass, swelling, tensile properties and spectral examination by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. The morphology of the soil-degraded film surfaces was examined by a low vacuum scanning electron microscope. Degradation of the prevulcanised NR latex films was significantly decreased when either the thickness, or modulus increased. Within this general trend, the residual mass of the buried films were noticeably affected by the interactions between material thickness and moduli. The thinner latex films degraded faster than thicker films within the same moduli. The appearance of carbonyl and hydroxyl groups as a consequence of polyisoprene oxidation from surface analyses of the samples occured across all film thicknesses but was more severe with the low modulus films. SEM visualisation of the soil-buried films showed that irrespective of thickness and moduli, the surfaces were characterised by cracks typical of bulk disintegration and mesovoids from where bacteria and fungi colonised to penetrate the fractured areas. back
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