Preparation and Characterizations of Natural Rubber from Natural Rubber Latex by Using Thermal Drying Method

Abstract

Natural rubber prepared from thermal drying technique was achieved. The range of drying temperature covered from 70°C to 150°C using local-made machine. The cure characteristic at 155°C, mooney viscosity, mechanical properties (before and after aging) were investigated as compared to control rubber (derived from acid coagulation) It was found that mooney viscosity of thermal dried natural rubbers (TNR) was higher than that of acid coagulated rubber (ANR). T2 and T90 of TNR for all vulcanizing system were shorter than that of ANR. The average mechanical properties of TNR showed slightly lower tensile strength as compared to ANR. The differences in obtained properties should be claimed by the content of non rubber in rubber composition.