Dependence of Physicochemical Properties of Radiation Vulcanized Natural Rubber Latex Film on Maturation Time

The effect of latex maturation on the physicochemica1 properties of radiation vulcanized natural rubber latex films was studied. The properties were compared to those of the nonirradiated natural rubber latex films at the same condition. For this purpose, field and concentrated latices were used. Tensile strength, modulus, tear strength, gel content, and cross-link density for both the nonirradiated and irradiated latex films increase with the increased length of maturation time, and these properties possess maximum values at nine weeks maturation period, whereas the elongation at break decreases to a minimum at the same length of maturation time.