Technology development of natural rubber latex products by radiation

Development of radiation vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) was conducted to produce 2-3 tons of RVNRL per batch. The sensitizer used was 5 phr of 2 ethylhexyl acrylate and 1 phr of CCl4 which required vulcanization dose of 15 kGy. Irradiation vessel was thin stainless steel box of 15 cm width with capacity of 180 l. Two boxes could fill into one carrier of gamma irradiator at Thai irradiation Center (TIC). Once thorough irradiation could produce 3200 l of RVNRL per batch. Average dose rate, determined by nylon thin film at 21 points in the tank was 0.83 kGy/hr with over dose ratio of 1.4. The RVNRL was successfully made to exam gloves at a glove manufacturing factory by coagulant dipping. Optimum condition of the dipping were: TSC 50-52%, partial dry at 900C after dipping of dwell time 50 seconds, dried after beading at 700C and heated to full vulcanized at 1100C. The RVNRL was also successfully made to thick wall products such as baby nipple by heat sensitive dipping using 1.8% of polyvinyl methyl ether in the latex