Natural Rubber

Natural rubber is a natural polymer.

Natural rubber is obtained from the latex

secreted by rubber tree.

Latex is a colloid. It consists of rubber

particles dispersed in water.

Natural rubber is poly(isoprene).

Its monomer is 2-metyhlbuta-1,3-diene or

isoprene. Each isoprene molecule contains
two pairs of double bonds.

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The isoprene molecules undergo addition
polymerization to produce a long-chain
molecule called poly(isoprene)

Each rubber particles is made up of many

long-chain rubber molecules, enclosed by a
protein-like membrane which is negatively
charged.

Latex ─ ─

Long chain ─ Negatively-charge

─
rubber ─
protein membrane
─
molecules
─
─
─
─
Rubber ─
─ particle
─
─ ─
─
─ ─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─
─

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Polymerization of Isopropene

Isoprene Isoprene Isoprene

H CH3 H H H CH3 H H H CH3 H H
│ │ │ │ + │ │ │ │ + │ │ │ │
C═C―C═C C═C―C═C C═C―C═C
│ │ │ │ │ │
H H H H H H

polymerization

H CH3 H H H CH3 H H H CH3 H H

│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
― C − C ═ C − C ―― C − C ═ C − C ―― C − C ═ C − C ―
│ │ │ │ │ │
H H H H H H

Repeated unit in polymer

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Coagulation process of latex

Rubber particle
─ ─

─
─
─ ─
─
─ ─
─
─
─ ─
─
─ ─ ─

─
─
─ ─

Rubber particle has negatively-charged protein

membrane.

The repulsion between the negatively-charged

particles prevents the rubber particles from coming
close to each other.

Latex could not coagulate.

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Q: So what causes the latex to coagulate?

+ +
─ ─

+ ─
─ + +
─ ─
+ + ─
─ ─ +
─
+
+ + + ─
─ ─
+ ─ +
─ + ─ ─
+ +
+ ─
─
+
─ ─
+ +

When an acid is added, the hydrogen ions, H+ neutralize the

negative charges on the protein membrane.

Q: Can you named the acid that usually used to coagulated

the latex in rubber industry?

A: Ethanoic acid also known as acetic acid.

[notes: all acid solutions can make latex coagulate]

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Q: What do you think will happen next?

The rubber particles now come close together.

This enable them to collide with one another resulting in the

breakage of the protein membrane.

The rubber molecules/polymer combines with one another

and entangle.

Thus, causing the latex to coagulate.

EASY lah

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Q: The coagulation of latex will also occur if latex is exposed
to air. Why?

A: Bacteria from air can enter latex. The growth and spread
of bacteria produce lactic acid that causes the process
above.

Q: Named the substance can be used to preserve latex in

liquid state? Explain.

A: Ammonia, NH3.
NH3 solutions contains hydroxide ions, OH- that
neutralised the acid/hydrogen ions, H+ produced by the
bacteria. The rubber particles remain negatively charged
and the coagulation is prevented.

[notes: all alkali solutions also can be used]

Properties of natural rubber

- Soft
- Elasticity decreases over time.
- Easily oxidized by air.
- Sensitive to heat. When heated, it becomes sticky.
When cooled, it becomes hard and brittle.

Vulcanization of rubber
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Properties of rubber can be improved through vulcanization.

Vulcanization is a process whereby rubber is

reacted with sulphur to improve its properties.
Q: How the vulcanization process is carrying out in
industry?

A: 1st method: Latex is heated with sulphur, or

2nd method: Rubber products are exposed to disulphur

dichloride, S2Cl2.

Q: Compare and contrast the properties of vulcanised and

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 unvulcanised rubber.
Similarities
Vulcanised and unvulcanised rubber is elastic, and
heat and electrical insulator

Differences [notes: draw a table]

Vulcanised Unvulcanised
Properties
rubber rubber
Elasticity More elastic Less elastic
Hardness Harder Softer
Tensile strength Stronger Weaker
Resistance to Can withstand Cannot withstand
heat higher temperature
temperature
Resistance to Less easily Easily oxidized
oxidation oxidized
Effect of organic Does not Become soft and
solvent become soft and sticky easily
sticky easily

Q: Why?
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 C
C
C═C C═C S
S
S
S
C C
C C
C═C C═C C═C
vulcanisation S S
S S
C═C C C
C═C C═C C C
S
S
S
S
C═C C
C═C C

Natural rubber Vulcanised rubber

C
C Rubber molecules
S
S
S
S
C C
C C
S S Cross-linkage of
S S
C sulphur atoms
C C C
S
S
S
S
C
C

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A: Improved properties of vulcanised rubber is due to the
presence of cross-linkage of sulphur atoms between the
rubber molecules.

Q: How the cross-linkage of sulphur atom improve elasticity

and strength of the vulcanized rubber:

A: When vulcanized rubber is stretched and released, the

cross linkage of sulphur atoms pull the chains back to
their original arrangement.

Q: Why vulcanized rubber more resistant to heat and organic

solvent?

A: The presence of sulphur cross-linkage increases the size

of rubber molecules.

Q: Why vulcanized rubber more resistant to oxidation?

A: Vulcanized rubber has lesser carbon-carbon double

bond.

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Uses of natural rubber

Home Work
Review Questions pg 100 - 102
i. objective (no. 1-8)
ii. subjective questions (1 and 2)
iii. essay (no. 1c)

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SPM Question (2006)
Diagram 2 shows the stretching phases of a vulcanized
rubber and an unvulcanized rubber strands.

Stretching Length of Length of

phases vulcanized rubber unvulcanized rubber

Before 45 mm 45 mm

During 59 mm 60 mm

After 45 mm 50 mm

Diagram 2
Plan an experiment to compare one characteristic shown in
Diagram 2 for both types of rubber.

Your planning should include the following aspects:

(a) Aim of the experiment
(b) All the variables
(c) Statement of the hypothesis
(d) List of substances and apparatus
(e) Procedure of the experiment
(f ) Tabulation of data [17 marks]
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Answer
(i) Problem statement:
Does vulcanized rubber is more elastic than
unvulcanized rubber?

(a) Aim:
To compare the elastic properties between vulcanized
rubber and unvulcanized rubber.

(b) List of variable:

Manipulated variable = Type of rubber

Responding variable = Elasticity //
length of rubber strip during and
after stretching phase.
Fixed variable = Original length of rubber strip //
Length/size/mass of rubber
(before stretching phase)

(c) Hypothesis:
Vulcanized rubber is more elastic than unvulcanized
rubber. // sk3

The more elastic of the rubber, the less length of the

rubber during and after stretching phase. // sk2

Rubber that is more elastic shows less length when/after

it has been stretched. sk3
(iv) List of materials and apparatus:
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 Vulcanized rubber, unvulcanized rubber,
Meter ruler, 50 g weight, retort stand and clamp,
clip, thread.

Clip

Rubber strip
Retort stand
with clamp

Thread

Weight 50 g

(vi) Procedure :
1. Clip is used to hung the strip of vulcanized rubber.
2. The original length of the vulcanized rubber is
measured.
3. A weight of 50 g is hung on the strip of vulcanized
rubber.
4. The increased in length of the vulcanized rubber
strip is measured.
5. The weight is removed.
6. The final length of the vulcanized rubber strip is
measured.
7. Step 1 to 6/ experiment is repeated using
unvulcanized rubber.
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(vii) Tabulation:

Original Final Length Final length when

Type of Increase in
length when weight is weight is
rubber strip length /mm
/mm hung /mm removed /mm

Vulcanized
rubber
45 59 14 45

unvulcanized
rubber
45 60 15 50

HOT SPOT
SPM 2011

Try this one

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Manipulated variable: Action to be taken:

Responding variable: Action to be taken:

How the variable responds?:

Fixed variable: Action to be taken:

Prepared by;
Kamal Ariffin B Saaim
SMKDBL
http://kemhawk.webs.com

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