Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex with polyfunctional monomers

Abstract

Abstract Natural rubber latex was irradiated with γ‐rays from Co‐60 in the presence of polyfunctional monomers to accelerate crosslinking of rubber molecules. Hydrophobic monomers were more effective in accelerating the vulcanization than were hydrophilic monomers. This was ascribed to high solubility of hydrophobic monomers in rubber particles. Among the hydrophobic monomers, neopentylglycol dimethacrylate (NPG) exhibited the highest efficiency in accelerating the vulcanization. Advantages of using NPG are (1) high colloidal stability of the irradiated latex and (2) high thermal stability of dried rubber film.