RHEOLOGICAL AND EXTRUDATE BEHAVIOR OF NATURAL-RUBBER LATEX RECLAIM BLENDS

The rheological and extrudate behaviour of natural rubber/latex reclai m blends were evaluated using a capillary viscometer. The study shows that the viscosity of natural rubber decreases marginally on the addit ion of latex reclaim while the variation of viscosity with shear rate is not affected. The temperature sensitivity of the blends is not affe cted significantly with the addition of latex reclaim. The extrudates of natural rubber/latex reclaim blends are smooth up to the addition o f about 50 wt. percent latex reclaim in filled natural rubber compound s.