FILM FORMATION OF NR/XSBR MIXED LATICES INVESTIGATION USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
W. Taweepreda*
Abstract
FILM FORMATION OF NR/XSBR MIXED LATICES INVESTIGATION USING ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
- Taweepreda1*
1Department of Materials Science and Technology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat-Yai, Songkhla 90110, THAILAND.
ABSTRACT
The film formation and surface morphology of natural rubber (NR) latex, carboxylated styrene butadiene rubber (XSBR) latex and their blend were investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). For film cast from the mixture of NR and XSBR latices at the ratio of 75:25, XSBR particles were segregated leading to dense clusters of XSBR in NR continuous phase due to phase separation. In the dry film at temperature above Tg of XSBR, extensive coalescence of XSBR particles was occurred. On the contrary, 75% of XSBR in the NR/XSBR blend led to micro-porous film instead. The nano-scale surface roughness of NR/XSBR film was smaller than that cast from pure NR and XSBR latices.
Keywords: AFM, latex, film
