The effects of pH value of reaction system, reaction time, and reaction tem
perature on the chlorination reaction in the preparation of chlorinated nat
ural rubber (CNR) from natural rubber latex were discussed. It has been fou
nd from the thermal analysis that the thermal degradation of CNR in nitroge
n is a one-step reaction, and 30% carbonide with a stable structure remaine
d at 360 to 700 degrees C; whereas the thermo-oxidative degradation of CNR
in air is a multistep reaction, and the thermal degradation ratio reaches t
o 100% at 560 degrees C. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.