Nanthaporn PukkateToshiaki KitaiYoshimasa YamamotoTetsuji KawazuraJitladda SakdapipanichSeiichi KawaharaNagaoka University of TechnologyMahidol University2018-08-242018-08-242007-08-01European Polymer Journal. Vol.43, No.8 (2007), 3208-3214001430572-s2.0-34547436386https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/24342Nano-matrix structure was formed by graft-copolymerization of styrene onto urea-deproteinized natural rubber (U-DPNR) latex. The grafted U-DPNR was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy,1H NMR spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Conversion and grafting efficiency of styrene were more than 90% under the best condition of the graft-copolymerization. In transmission electron micrograph of film specimen stained by OsO4, it was found that natural rubber particle of about 0.5 μm in diameter was dispersed in polystyrene matrix of about 15 nm in thickness. The conversion and grafting efficiency for the grafted U-DPNR were compared with those for a control sample prepared from enzymatic deproteinized natural rubber (E-DPNR) with styrene. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Mahidol UniversityChemistryMaterials SciencePhysics and AstronomyArticleSCOPUS10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2007.04.037