Green Modification Approach Using Novel Viscosity Stabilizer for Inhibiting Storage Hardening of Natural Rubber

ABSTRACT

The inherent storage hardening phenomenon of natural rubber (NR) has always affected product quality and processing energy consumption. This article proposes a new strategy for preparing a novel constant viscosity natural rubber (CV‐NR), which involves wet modification of natural rubber latex using a new green and noncorrosive viscosity stabilizer, alkyl hydrazide (OP). And compared with the traditional corrosive viscosity stabilizer hydroxylamine hydrochloride (HH), the influence of viscosity stabilizer on the microstructure, processability, crystallization behavior, and physical and mechanical properties of NR was mainly investigated. The results indicated that depending on the aldehyde amine condensation reaction between OP and the aldehyde group of NR molecular chain, OP can significantly inhibit the storage hardening problem of NR caused by network branching and crosslinking, which was manifested in the reduction of molecular weight, gel content, Mooney viscosity, initial plastic value, and elastic modulus, thus improving the processability. In addition, CV‐NR had better crystallinity and aging resistance compared to NR. It was worth noting that OP did not significantly affect the physical and mechanical properties of NR, and was obviously better than HH. This study could provide a highly promising design approach for the development and application of novel CV‐NR to prepare high‐performance NR products.