Effect of activated carbon on the properties of natural rubber latex foams

Abstract

Activated carbon used as an adsorber in many industries. In this research work activated carbon (AC) has been incorporated as a filler with natural rubber latex compounds to enhance the odour adsorption property of latex foam products. Incorporation of AC into natural rubber latex (NRL) has not been reported in the literature. A methodology was developed to prepare stable colloidal dispersion of AC and incorporate it into NRL compound without affecting the stability of the NRL compound, fine cell structure of the final foam and physical properties of final foam product. It was found that stable AC dispersion with 36% maximum Total Solid Content (TSQ can be prepared by ball milling for 18 h in the absence of dispersion stabilizer. It has been revealed that up to 2% (on dry weight) dosage of AC dispersion can be incorporated into latex compound without disturbing the fine and continuous cell structure of final foam. The incorporation of AC dispersion into latex rubber foam leads to sorption enhancement of ammonia (NH3). The average sorption percentage of AC filled foam is found to be 9.70% and it was 5.04% for foam sample without incorporating AC.