Radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex using TMPTMA and PEA

Effect of trimethylol propane trimethacrylate (TMPTMA) and phenoxy ethyl acrylate (PEA) as radiation vulcanization accelerator on radiation vulcanization of natural rubber latex (RVNRL) was evaluated. Results indicated that the PEA is a more effective accelerator for RVNRL since it imparts approximately 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 physical 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.