Diimide hydrogenation of natural rubber latex

Abstract

Abstract Hydrogenation is one important method of chemical modification, which improves the physical, chemical and thermal properties of diene‐based elastomers. Natural rubber latex (NRL) could be hydrogenated to a strictly alternating ethylene‐propylene copolymer using a diimide reduction system. The diimide reduction technique of NRL was accomplished by using hydrazine hydrate/hydrogen peroxide and Cu 2+ as catalyst. The hydrogenated products are characterized by FTIR and NMR spectroscopy. It has been found that cupric acetate is a highly active catalyst for the reaction and the addition of a controlled amount of gelatin demonstrated a beneficial effect on the degree of hydrogenation, whereas, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) acted as a stabilizer of the latex particle in the reaction system and reduced the degree of hydrogenation. In the presence of SDS, a longer reaction time and a higher amount of hydrazine hydrate was required for hydrogenation of NRL. Gel formation during hydrogenation does not significantly affect the degree of hydrogenation. Gel inhibitors such as hydroquinone also decrease the degree of hydrogenation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2007