| ABSTRACT |
The properties of natural rubber latex make it an extremely versatile raw material for dipping and moulding processes. As with dry rubber compounding vulcanization of the natural rubber latex is essential. In existing process, the vulcanizing ingredients are added into the latex and to mature and thereby fully cure the latex film after it has been deposited and dried. The novel about this new invention is it does not require maturation to prevulcanize the latex. The vulcanization is introduced by coating the vulcanization slurry onto the deposited latex. With this new process, it can minimal use of energy, processing time and reduces latex wastes. This contributes towards the need for reducing the operation cost and also for environmental protection.This maturation free process is successfully applied in natural rubber latex from Hevea Brasiliensis dan Manihot Esculenta. Natural latex from Manihot Esculenta is approved as novel innovation (the patent pending PI 2013000350). This research study is divided into three main parts. The first part of this research is mainly to determine the most suitable maturation time for the latex compound. Therefore, each type of latex was matured into three different maturation time, i.e., 1 hour, 3 hour and 24 hour. The latex compounds were further matured in water bath at temperature of 70°C until chloroform number 3 is achieved, in which indicates that coagulum is a non-tacky agglomerates. At this stage, the latex compound is considered moderately vulcanized. Then, the latex compounds were underwent coagulant dipping process and followed by curing/ drying at room temperature, stripping and testing.
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