Graft-Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile onto Surfaces of Natural Rubber Particles Using Deproteinized Natural Rubber Latex

Abstract

Graft-copolymerization of acrylonitrile onto natural rubber in latex stage was investigated in order to cover the natural rubber particles with polyacrylonitrile, after the proteins present in natural rubber were removed with urea. Each rubber particle of about 1 μm in diameter was covered with polyacrylonitrile of about 15 nm in thickness, as confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Penetration of linoleic acid was suppressed by covering NR particles with polyacrylonitrile.