Abstract
The addition of starch in natural rubber (NR) latex films tends to decrease the mechanical properties of NR latex films due to poor dispersion of the fillers. As an alternative, starch was gelatinized before being added into NR latex compounds. The dispersion of 10% starch was mechanically prepared through ball milling together with dispersing agent. The other dispersion of 10% starch was gelatinized using alkali. The influenced of ball milled starch and alkali gelatinized starch filled NR latex films were studied through scanning electron microscopy, tensile properties, tear strength, and swelling properties. The rough freeze fracture surface with less agglomeration of fillers was observed on the alkali gelatinized starch NR latex films. The NR latex films filled with alkali gelatinized starch showed improvement in tensile properties, tear strength, and swelling resistance compared to the ball milled starch NR latex films. It can be concluded that the alkali gelatinization improved the dispersion of starch in NR matrix thus enhanced the mechanical properties of NR latex films.
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