Effect of Glutaraldehyde on Properties of Interpenetrating Polymer Network Hydrogel of Pre-Vulcanized Natural Rubber Latex with Sulphur and Cassava Starch

Abstract

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogel of natural rubber and cassava starch (IPN NR/CT) was prepared by blending the pre-vulcanized natural rubber latex with sulphur and gelatinized cassava starch by using Glutaraldehyde (GA) us crosslinking agent at 2–10% w/w of starch and reaction temperature 50^๐C for 2 h. The influence of GA content on the water absorption of IPN NR/CT was investigated. It was found that the percentage of the water absorption of IPN NR/CT decreased with increasing GA content. The highest percentage of the water absorption of IPN NR/CT was ca. 54.44% at 2% GA content, while the efficiency of using was improved with increasing GA content due to crosslink density in structure of IPN NR/CT which caused stable retention of water absorption degree of the hydrogel when the use of hydrogel was repeated several times.