The preparation of RVNRL using Malaysian - produced latices

Abstract

The research project is carried out using the latices supplied by three of the suppliers in Malaysia. From the results of the studies carried out in search for the best sensitiser for RVNRL preparation, the use of n-butyl acrylate ( n-BA ) as a sensitiser seemed to give the most promising results. However, its use as a sensitiser is not universal to all latices available in the country. The problem was overcome by the use of different formulations for different latices. For the latex supplied by Golden Hope ( Hytex ), a combination of sensitisers i.e. n-BA plus 2-ethyl hexyl acrylate ( 2-EHA ) with a 10 % potassium hydroxide solution as the stabiliser, was the requirement. Latex supplied by MARDEC ( Matex ), seemed to need only n-BA as the sensitiser. Nevertheless, a stabiliser was still required and the use of a 10 % KOH solution was found to be suitable. A large range of stabilisers and sensitisers were applicable to Guthrie latex. The use of n-BA as the sensitiser and potassium laurylic acid as the stabiliser seemed the most favourable formulation. All the results are discussed in the form of correlation between dose and the tensile properties of RVNRL vulcanizates, equilibrium swelling ratio and standing time of the latex formulation.