Surface modification of natural rubber latex films by hydroxyethyl methacrylate

Abstract

The surface modifications of natural rubber latex films by argon plasma pretreatment, followed by UV-induced graft copolymerization of hydroxyethyl methacrylate, were carried out to improve the latex hydrophilicity. The effect of plasma pretreatment time, monomer concentration and UV irradiation time on the graft densities was studied. ATR-FTIR analyses indicates the efficient grafting of poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) onto the surface of latex film. The surface roughness of natural rubber latex films increases to 360 nm from 9 nm, leading to a decrease of water contact angle value of NR latex film surface to about 60° from 100°, and thus confirmed improvement of the hydrophilicity of latex film. Biocompatibility of the film was evaluated with vitro cytotoxicity test; the results proved a good biocompatibility of modified latex.