EPOXIDATION OF LOW-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT EUPHORBIA-LACTIFLUA NATURAL-RUBBER WITH IN-SITU FORMED PERFORMIC ACID

The epoxidation of low-molecular-weight natural rubber isolated from E uphorbia lactiflua latex was accomplished. The reaction was performed using formic peracid formed ''in situ'' from hydrogen peroxide and for mic acid. Different temperatures, ratio of H2O2 to isoprene units and H2O2 to HCOOH were used. The products were characterized by infrared s pectroscopy (IR), 1(H) and C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), diff erential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and elementary analysis. H-1-NMR w as used quantitatively to calculate epoxidation levels. Maximum epoxid ation reached was 89.4%. DSC results record a linear relationship betw een percent epoxidation and Tg.