Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex using TMPTMA and PEA

Effect of trimethylol propane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) and phenoxy ethyl ac rylate (PEA) as radiation vulcanization accelerator on radiation vulcanizat ion of natural rubber latex (RVNRL) was evaluated. Results indicated that t he PEA is a more effective accelerator for RVNRL since it imparts approxima tely equivalent physical properties compared to that of n-butyl acrylate (n -BA), the most widely used accelerator. However, when compared to n-BA, the sensitizing effect of PEA is comparatively lower, and therefore, similar p hysical properties could be obtained at a slightly higher dose. Even though TMPTMA is a polyfunctional monomer, it is less capable of imparting better physical properties at similar doses. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All r ights reserved.