Shigeyuki TokiChristian BurgerBenjamin S. HsiaoSureerut AmnuaypornsriJitladda SakdapipanichYasuyuki TanakaStony Brook UniversityMahidol University2018-07-122018-07-122008-11-15Journal of Polymer Science, Part B: Polymer Physics. Vol.46, No.22 (2008), 2456-2464088762662-s2.0-56349131774https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/19057Multi-scaled microstructures induced by natural impurities (i.e., proteins, phospholipids, carbohydrates) in natural rubber (NR) were investigated by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), and optical microscopy using several kinds of untreated and chemically treated un-vulcanized samples. These microstructures include large aggregates (size less than 50 μm), well-defined crystals (size less than a few 10 μm), and micelles (size much less than 10 μm). In un-vulcanized NR samples, even though the concentrations of natural impurities are relatively low, the dispersion of these microstructures significantly affects the mechanical properties. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Mahidol UniversityChemistryMaterials SciencePhysics and AstronomyArticleSCOPUS10.1002/polb.21578