A Comparative Study on Degradability of NBR and NR Latex Gloves
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Natural rubber (NR) and Nitrile rubber (NBR) gloves are two main types of latex gloves used in the
personal protective equipment market. In the face of an abrupt increase in the demand and usage of
these gloves due to the present Covid-19 pandemic, degradation of these gloves after usage may
create an environmental threat. Therefore, a study was conducted to compare the degradable behavior
of these products. Both glove types were treated under thermal and hydrothermal, and UV radiation
environments. Untreated samples were used as the control. Under thermal, hydrothermal and photo-
oxidative treatments, an increase of the swelling index of untreated NR gloves (65.2%) increased by
38.23%, 14.69% and 7.17%, respectively while NBR gloves showed a percentage swelling index
increment of 14.52%, 15.56% and 12.12% with compered to the percentage of the swelling index of
the untreated sample (28.77%) in the same order of treatments. The average tensile strength of NR
was decreased from 16.89 to 15.67, 11.19, and 15.63 MPa while for NBR it decreased from 28.06 to
24.35, 23.93 and 20.56 MPa after the thermal, hydrothermal and UV exposure, respectively.
Hydrothermally treated NR gloves showed new peaks suspected as hydroxyl groups and carbon-
carbon triple bonds. Spectra of thermally and hydrothermally treated NBR showed identical loss of
the peak responsible for the cyanide group. TGA analysis showed that the initial decomposition
temperature of NR has reduced from 365.42 ̊C to 364.95 ̊C, 360.63 ̊C and 365.27 ̊C, respectively
after the thermal, hydrothermal and UV treatments. NBR gloves also showed the same trend except
for hydrothermal treatment where an increase in initial decomposition temperature was recorded.
Overall, hydrothermal treatment was the best degradation method for NR gloves among candidates
while exposure to UV radiation exhibited the highest degradation potential for NBR gloves. It was
also found that removal of cyanide group when NBR gloves were subjected to hydrothermal
degradation.
Keywords: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; Natural rubber; Nitrile Butadiene rubber;
Thermo gravimetric analysis; Ultraviolet
Description
Keywords
Mineral Sciences, Materials Sciences, Natural Rubber, Export Agriculture