Preparation of polypropylene and skim natural rubber/thermoplastic natural rubber blends: Determining processing conditions
by D.S. Wijewardane and M.A.S.R. Senevirathna, Uva Wellassa University; and Y.C.Y. Sudusingha, D. Edirisinghe and S. Siriwardena, Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka
Centrifuged latex production in Sri Lanka contributes over 25% of the country’s annual total rubber production. This share is an increasing trend, when the production figures for the last decade are considered. During the centrifugation process, concentrated or creamed latex with dry rubber content of 60% is separated as centrifuged latex, and 5% to 10% of rubber available in the field latex is removed as the diluted fraction. It has 3% to 5% dry rubber content and a high amount of non-rubbers. This diluted fraction is known as skim latex, and the rubber extracted from acid coagulation of skim latex is referred to as skim natural rubber (SNR).