Enhanced X-ray shielding properties of NRL gloves with nano-Bi2O3 and their mechanical properties under aging conditions

Abstract This work investigated X-ray shielding and the mechanical, morphological, and physical properties of natural rubber latex (NRL) gloves vulcanized using either a sulfur or gamma curing system, with the addition of varying nano-Bi2O3 contents from 50 to 200 parts per hundred parts of rubber by weight (phr) for potential use in the fabrication of lead-free X-ray-protective latex gloves. The results showed that the addition of nano-Bi2O3 fillers enhanced the X-ray shielding ability and density of the composites. The results also revealed that nano-Bi2O3 slightly increased the tensile modulus but decreased the tensile strength and elongation at break in both curing systems. Furthermore, 90–170 phr of nano-Bi2O3 provided the optimum contents that produced gamma-vulcanized natural rubber latex (GVNRL) gloves having both X-ray shielding and mechanical properties greater than the minimum requirements for commercial X-ray protective gloves and examination gloves (ASTM D3578-19 ). In addition, it was found that gamma and thermal aging affected the mechanical properties, with sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber latex (SVNRL) gloves having increased overall mechanical properties, while GVNRL gloves exhibiting lower properties. The overall results suggested that the developed GVNRL gloves had great potential for use as effective X-ray protective gloves with nano-Bi2O3 acting as a suitable X-ray protective filler.