The reinforcement of natural rubber latex with chemically activated starches

Two possibilities of using starch as a reinforcing filler in natural rubber were investigated. These were the latex master-batching technique in dry rubber product process and the use of starch in latex product process. Starch xanthide natural rubber master-batches were prepared starting from either latex concentrate or fresh field latex. Crumb characteristics of the master-batches and curing and physical properties of the resulting starch xanthide filled compounds were examined. It was found that starch xanthide content and types of latex are responsible for the crumb size of the master-batches. [Continues.]