A Solvent-swelling method to visualize rubber particles network in biodegraded household Natural Rubber (NR) latex gloves

Abstract

The environmental degradation of household NR latex gloves buried in soil was examined using Transmission and Scanning electron microscope. Gloves pieces were treated with acetone to remove the autooxidation formulation prior to soil burial and compared with the untreated gloves.  All gloves had been allowed to degrade for various time periods (3, 12, and 18 months). Degradation degree of the samples was evaluated on the integrity of rubber network of the latex particles within the samples using electron microscope. Prior to observation under microscope, samples were prepared using a solvent-swelling method.   There were marked differences between network densities of latex particles for treated and untreated samples as early as 3 month treatment. Latex particles in treated samples showed a very coarse and loose rubber network that occasionally surrounded by a network of higher density latex particles, though a few remnants of latex particles can still be seen. Whereas the untreated samples showed some distinguished latex particles membrane and the integrity of rubber network was still   intact. The disintegration of rubber network became more apparent in  12 and 18 months of burial. Rubber particles network in 18 months samples disintegrated totally, and the network coalesced into free polymeric strands. Solvent-swelling method gives a clearer picture on rubber particle network.

Key words:  solvent-swelling method, latex biodegradation, rubber particle network, household NR latex.