Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of filler on the total protein content and mechanical properties of natural rubber latex films at different filler loadings

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Rubber Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is an important filler, widely used rubber industries, particularly in natural rubber latex dipped such as gloves. The main advantages are cost reduction and product improvement. With the development of technology in superfine filler production, the use of CaCO3 as a non-reinforcing filler has gained much attention as it could help to improve natural rubber (NR) product properties. In this study, mixed clones of natural rubber field latex (MCFL) were prepared before further processing into mixed clones’ natural rubber latex concentrate (MCLC). The properties of MCLC were evaluated before compounds with CaCO3 and other rubber chemicals. The MCLC films were prepared from the MCLC added with CaCO3 varied from 10 to 40 parts per hundred rubber (pphr) and rubber chemicals. The total protein contents for unaged and aged latex films before and after acetone extraction was determined, respectively, according to total nitrogen (N) and extractable protein (EP) contents. The content of CaCO3 in MCLC films at different loadings was characterised by a Thermogravimetric analyser (TGA). Meanwhile, mechanical properties such as tensile and tear strengths were also determined. It was found that the total protein contents for the unaged MCLC films at different filler loadings were higher as compared to the aged samples. It is also proposed that the chemicals’ interference for MCLC films have occurred from 25 pphr until 40 pphr filler loadings. The tensile strength of MCLC films decreased as the filler loading increased. However, the tear strength of MCLC films increased as the filler loading increased.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hedayatollah SG, Zahra S (2012) Natural rubber hybrid nanocomposites reinforced with swelled organoclay and nano-Calcium Carbonate. Rubber Chem Technol 85(1):132–146. https://doi.org/10.5254/1.3672436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Rothon R, Chris P (2017) Calcium carbonate fillers. In: Rothon R (ed) Fillers for polymer applications, polymers and composites. Springer, Berlin, pp 149–160

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  3. Suhaida SI, Hanafi I, Samayamutthirian P (2011) Study of the effect of different shapes of ultrafine silica as fillers in natural rubber compounds. Polym Testing 30(2):251–259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2010.10.002

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Mohamad Akmal AR, Siti Nor Qamarina M, Amir Hashim MY (2013) The effect of grounded calcium carbonate on the physical properties of NR vulcanised latex films. J Rubb Res. 16(4):203–214

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kevin JK, Gordon S (2017) Latex allergy: where are we now and how did we get there? J Allergy Clin Immunol 5(5):1212–1216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaip.2017.05.029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mok KL, Esah Y, Lai PF (2001) The use of ultrafiltration for removing interferences in the Lowry microassay of extractable proteins in natural rubber latex gloves. J Rubb Res 4(1):17–27

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Donald HB, David AK, Vesna JT (2002) Measurement of latex proteins and assessment of latex protein exposure. Methods 27(1):46–51

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Etheridge RD, Pesti GM, Foster EH (1998) A comparison of nitrogen values obtained utilizing the Kjeldahl nitrogen and Dumas combustion methodologies (Leco CNS 2000) on samples typical of an animal nutrition analytical laboratory. Anim Feed Sci Technol 73(1–2):21–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(98)00136-9

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rosmahani C I, Norhayati M, Mohmad R B (2002) Modified Lowry methods for determination of extractable protein content—which one is the best? International rubber glove conference & exhibition. Kuala Lumpur

  10. Frank WP, Anthony AG (2002) Natural rubber latex protein reduction with an emphasis on enzyme treatment. Methods 27(1):77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1046-2023(02)00055-5

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ma’zam MS, Ng KP, Hasma H (2004) Low protein natural rubber latices. J Rubb Res 7(1):30–55

    Google Scholar 

  12. Norhanifah MY, Mok KL, Asrul M (2015) Future trends and some perspectives of the technology to produce powder-free natural rubber gloves. Malays Rubb Technol Dev 15(2):46–48

    Google Scholar 

  13. Amir Hashim MY, Hasma H, Shamsul Bahri AR (2004) Nano-sized CaCO3 fillers in NR latex gloves. In: 2nd int. rubb. glove conf. & exhibition. Kuala Lumpur

  14. Roslim R, Amir Hashim MY (2010) Effect of filler on physical properties and surface morphology of natural rubber latex films. J Rubb Res 13(2):125–138

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. MS (1987) MS 466, Methods of sampling and testing field latex

  16. ISO (2010) ISO 2004, Natural rubber latex concentrate—centrifuged or creamed, ammonia preserved types—specifications

  17. Nurulhuda A, Amir Hashim MY (2014) Leaching: a critical factor in processing of rubber examination gloves. Malays Rubber Technol Dev 1:16–21

    Google Scholar 

  18. Siti M et al (2008) Effect of soaking in potassium hydroxide solution on the curing, tensile properties and extractable protein content of natural rubber latex films. Polym Testing 27(8):1013–1016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymertesting.2008.09.005

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. MRB Test Method (2010) UPB/P/011, Polymer type(s) by FTIR spectroscopy

  20. ISO (2007) ISO 1795, Rubber, raw natural and raw synthetic—sampling and further preparative procedures

  21. Ng YT (1992) Determination of nitrogen. RRIM Test Methods for Standard Malaysian. SMR Bulletin No. 7 revised edition

  22. MRB Test Method (2007) UPB/P/04, Rubber and rubber products- determination of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur

  23. ASTM (2010) ASTM D5712, Standard test method for analysis of aqueous extractable protein in natural rubber and its products using the modified Lowry method

  24. Hasma H, Dazylah D, Siti Nor Qamarina M (2006) The factor contributing to higher extractable protein content in natural rubber latex glove as determined by ASTM D5712-99 over ASTM D5712-95 and its relation to allergen content. J Rubb Res. 9(2):73–77

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Ruhida AR, Aziz H (2017) The effect of filler on the protein content and interferences in rubber latices. AIP conference proceedings

  26. ASTM (2002) ASTM D412, Standard test methods for vulcanized rubber and thermoplastic elastomers—tension

  27. ISO (1994) ISO34-1, Rubber vulcanized for thermoplastic—determination of tear strength—part 1: trouser, angle and crescent test pieces

  28. Ong EL (2000) Characterization of new latex-timber clones of natural rubber. J Appl Polym Sci 78(8):1517–1520. https://doi.org/10.1002/1097-4628(20001121)78:8%3c1517:AID-APP80%3e3.0.CO;2-X

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Esah Y (1990) Clonal characterization of latex and rubber properties. J Nat Rubb Rs. 5(1):52–80

    Google Scholar 

  30. Cheng SF (1988) Types, composition, properties, storage and handling of natural rubber latex concentrates. Notes on NR Examination Glove Manufacture. Kuala Lumpur: RRIM

  31. Esah Y et al (1997) Correlation between total extractable proteins and allergen levels of natural rubber latex gloves. J Nat Rubb Res 12:120–130

    Google Scholar 

  32. Yeang HY, Faridah Y (1993) Latex allergy studies: differential leaching of soluble proteins from the inner and outer surfaces of natural rubber latex examination gloves. J Nat Rubb Res 8:154–154

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Mok KL et al (2005) Interference correction in Lowry micro assay for measurement of extractable proteins in natural rubber latex products. Malays Rubb Technol Dev 5:3–7

    Google Scholar 

  34. Song E et al (2014) Surface modification of CaCO3 nanoparticles by alkylbenzene sulfonic acid surfactant. Colloids Surf A 461:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.colsurfa.2014.07.020

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Azemi S (2005) The effects of isomerisation and vulcanisation temperature on the tear strength of natural rubber latex film. J Rubb Res. 8(1):16–24

    Google Scholar 

  36. Azemi S (1993) Tear behaviour of natural rubber latex film. Kuala Lumpur: International Rubber Technology Conference

Download references

Acknowledgement

The author wishes to thank the Malaysian Rubber Board for permission to publish this work. This study is part of the PhD research project funded by the Malaysian Rubber Board (MRB) with advice from the University of Malaya. The author would also like to thank the Malaysian Rubber Board for the kind supply of latex and facilities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia, Malaysian Rubber Board, P.O Box 10150, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    A. R. Ruhida & S. Shamheza

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50630, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    A. R. Ruhida & A. Hassan

Authors
  1. A. R. Ruhida
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Hassan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Shamheza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. R. Ruhida.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ruhida, A.R., Hassan, A. & Shamheza, S. Effect of filler on the total protein content and mechanical properties of natural rubber latex films at different filler loadings. J Rubber Res 23, 217–225 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42464-020-00051-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42464-020-00051-x

Keyword

Search

Navigation