Effect of vulcanizing and antioxidant systems on aged tensile properties of MicrOptic gloves
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
MicrOptic glove is a powder free surgical glove which is made out from the natural rubber latex.
Thin nature of MicrOptic glove facilitate exceptional dexterity and tactile sensitivity and at the
same time outstanding strength and barrier protection (Ansell Medical GBU, 2014).Aged tensile
properties of the glove cannot be maintained in a stable level due to the thin nature of the glove.
Natural rubber vulcanizates can be given adequate heat-aging resistance by a suitable choice of
vulcanization and by using ammine or phenolic antioxidants (Morton, 2010). The study was
conducted to disclose the effect of vulcanizing system, antioxidant system and their combined
effect on aged tensile properties of MicrOptic glove.
Materials and Methodology
The study was carried out centralizing to Ansell Lanka (Pvt) Ltd, EPZ - Biyagama. Aged tensile
test was done at Quality Control (QA) laboratory at Ansell Lanka (Pvt) Ltd. Nine trials with
different treatments were conducted during this study. 0.5 pphr elementary sulphur(V1), 0.25
pphr elementary sulphur with 0.5 pphr sulphur donor compound (V2) and 0.25 pphr elementary
sulphur with 1.0 pphr sulphur donor compound (V3) were utilized as three different vulcanizing
systems in MicrOptic formula. 1.5 pphr primary antioxidant (A1), 1.0 pphr primary antioxidant
with 0.25 pphr secondary antioxidant (A2) and 1.0 pphr primary antioxidant with 0.5 pphr
secondary antioxidant (A3) were utilized as three different antioxidant systems in MicrOptic
formula.
All the dispersions of vulcanizing agents and antioxidants were made by using laboratory scale
ball mill. Nine glove compounds with three replicates were produced according to MicrOptic
glove formula except the vulcanizing agent and antioxidant system. Vulcanizing agents and
antioxidant were added according to the treatment combinations.The compounded latex was
kept for 36 hours to obtain optimum degree of crosslinks. 65 - 75 % toluene swelling index
(TSI) was used as optimum degree of crosslinks.Sample gloves are made under laboratory
conditions.Clean former was heated up to 65 ºC by using an oven and then former was dipped in
a MicrOptic glove coagulant solution at 65 ºC with constant time of 22 seconds. Coagulant
solution was dried by using an oven and heated up to 55 ºC. Then former was dipped in latex
solution with constant time of 23 seconds and bead of the glove made by manually. After that
gloves were leached in hot water (70 ºC) for 2 minute. Finally, formers with gloves were cured
at 120 ºC for 35 minutes.
Aged tensile properties (ATP) such as force at break (FB), elongation at break (EB) and 500 %
modulus (MOD) were measured according to the BS EN 455-2:2000 standards. Factor factorial
in complete randomized design was conducted and data obtained from aged tensile properties
were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear model procedure of
MINITAB 16. Significant means of treatments were separated using the least significant
difference (LSD) (P< 0.05) test.
Results and Discussion
The study revealed that the effect of vulcanizing system on force at break, elongatio n at break
and 500 % modulus were significant (p < 0.05). Also combine effect of vulcanizing system and
antioxidant system on force at break, elongation at break and 500 % modulus were significant(p
< 0.05).Further, this study disclosed, the effect of antioxidant system on elongation at break was
significant (p < 0.05). However, effect of antioxidant system on force at break and 500 %
modulus were not significant at 5% significant level.
Description
Keywords
Animal Sciences, Export Agriculture, Agriculture, Rubber Technology, Rubber Production