Molecular structure and storage hardening of natural rubber: Insight into the reactions between hydroxylamine and phospholipids linked to natural rubber molecule

Abstract

© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The effect of hydroxylamine on the molecular structure and storage hardening of natural rubber (NR) was investigated by the treatment of deproteinized NR (DPNR) latex with hydroxylamine. The hydroxylamine treatment decreased the content of long-chain fatty acid ester groups in DPNR from about 2–0.7 mol per rubber molecule. The molecular weight and molecular weight distribution changed apparently after treatment with hydroxylamine. The relative intensity of the 1H NMR signals corresponding to phospholipids at the α-terminal group decreased after the hydroxylamine treatment. The Huggins ‘k’ constant of hydroxylamine-treated DPNR showed the liberation of linear rubber molecules caused by decomposition of branch points derived from phospholipids. The absence of storage hardening in hydroxylamine-treated DPNR was observed to be caused by not only the reaction of hydroxylamine and aldehyde groups but also the removal of phospholipids as well as the breakdown of phospholipid aggregations as a result of hydroxylamime, contributing to the establishment of a newly proposed mechanism of hydroxylamine on the inhibition of storage hardening in NR. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43753.