Modification of Natural Rubber Latex by Graft Copolymerization of 2-Ethylhexyl Acrylate and Methacrylic Acid

Abstract

Natural rubber (NR) grafted with 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (2-EHA) and methacrylic acid (MAA, collectively NR-g-PEHA/MAA) was synthesized by emulsion polymerization. Tetraethylenepentamine and cumene hydroperoxide were used as redox initiators. The successful grafting of 2-EHA and MAA onto NR was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of the NR latex particles was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The effects of reaction temperature, initiator dosage, feeding mode, and hard monomer content on the mechanical properties of the modified NR film were investigated. Grafted polymer chains were unevenly wrapped on the outside of NR particles, and smaller particles were more easily grafted. Crosslinking was characterized using a toluene swelling method. Thermal stability and glass transition temperature were examined by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the thermal stability of NR-g-PEHA/MAA had been improved, and the glass transition temperature (T _g) was unchanged.

Keywords

Natural rubber latex / Graft copolymerization / Crosslinking / Acrylate / Aziridine

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