Ultrafine fully vulcanized natural rubber modified by graft-copolymerization with styrene and acrylonitrile monomers

Abstract

This research aims to modify ultrafine fully vulcanized powdered natural rubber (UFPNR) prepared by emulsion graft-copolymerization with styrene (St) and acrylonitrile (AN) monomers onto deproteinized natural rubber (DPNR). The effects of monomers content and St/AN weight ratio on grafting efficiency and thermal stability of the developed DPNR-g-(PS-co-PAN) were investigated. The results showed that grafting efficiency was enhanced up to 86% with monomers content 15 phr and weight ratio St:AN 80:20. The obtained DPNR-g-(PS-co-PAN) was radiated by an electron beam at various doses, followed by a spray drying process to produce UFPNR. The obtained modified UFPNR particles irradiated at dose up to 300 kGy were relatively spherical with a particle size of approximately 4.4 µm. Furthermore, the degradation temperature of 5wt% loss (T_d5) of UFPNR was found in the range of 349–356 °C. The results revealed that the modified UFPNR is suitable as a toughening filler for a broader spectrum of polymers.

Keywords

Graft copolymer / DPNR-g-(PS-co-PAN) / UFPNR / Electron beam vulcanization / Spray drying

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Funding

National Research Council of Thailand

Thailand Science Research and Innovation (TSRI)

the 90TH Anniversary of Chulalongkorn University Scholarship((50 3/2564))

Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology