Influence of thickness and modulus on the environmental degradation of vulcanised NR latex films

Ahmad Ikram A. J., . and Amir Hashim M. Y., . and Asrul M., . Influence of thickness and modulus on the environmental degradation of vulcanised NR latex films. pp. 14-29. ISSN 1511-1768

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 ofcarbonyl 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.

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Abstract

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 ofcarbonyl 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.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Thickness
AGROVOC Term:	Latex
AGROVOC Term:	Vulcanization
AGROVOC Term:	Bacteria
AGROVOC Term:	Fungi
AGROVOC Term:	Environmental degradation
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:28
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23124

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