Effect of the Vulcanization Time and Storage on the Stability and Physical Properties of Sulfur-Prevulcanized Natural Rubber Latex

Prevulcanized natural rubber latex was prepared by the heating of the latex compound at 55°C for different periods of time (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h). The changes in the colloidal stability and physical properties were evaluated during the course of prevulcanization. The prevulcanized latex compounds were stored for 300 days, and the properties were monitored at different storage intervals (0, 20, 40, 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 days). During prevulcanization, the mechanical stability time increased, and the viscosity remained almost constant. The tensile strength increased during storage for a period of 20 days. The degree of crosslinking, modulus, elongation at break, and chloroform number were varied with the time of storage.

Characterization of low dielectric constant polyaniline thin film synthesized by ac plasma polymerization technique

Polyaniline thin films were prepared by ac plasma polymerization technique. Capacitance, dielectric loss, dielectric constant and ac conductivity of these films were investigated in the frequency range from 100 Hz to 1MHz and in the temperature range from 300 to 373 K. Capacitance and dielectric loss decreased with frequency and increased with temperature. This type of behaviour was found to be in good agreement with an existing model. The ac conductivity σ(ω) was found to vary as ωs with the index s 1. Annealing of polyaniline thin films in high vacuum at 373K for 1 h was found to reduce the dielectric loss. FTIR studies reveal that the aromatic ring is retained in the polyaniline thin films, which enhances the thermal stability of the polymer films