Biodegradable NRL Gloves
In order to solve the increasing of rubber solid waste via biodegradation process, an attempt to
combine NRL systems with other degrading materials especially bio-materials have been made [7].
Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add is a green products from naturally abundant and renewable
carbohydrates polymer which can biodegradable. It works through residing at interstitial spaces
between rubber matrix particles which then cementing the particles together hence feasible to be
consumed by microorganisms during the waste disposal in the landfill. The microorganisms will
produce a specific enzyme that can further break the rubber molecular chain. These synergistic
effects increased the rates of biodegradation for rubber based products upon disposal. [8-9]. The
incorporation of Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add in natural rubber latex (NRL) compound
hypothetically increases the decomposition process of NRL film via oxidation in polyisoprene chain
and enzymatic cleavage in Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add.The Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add
will filled an interstitial void within NRL colloidal particles hence hindered the physical crosslink
formation between rubber particles and created a separate distance between NRL colloidal particles.
The Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add then acted as a cementing mechanism between NRL colloidal
particles. Thus, instead of the physical crosslink’s and sulphur cross links present within
polyisoprene chain, the integrity of NRL films also depends on the hydrogen bonding between free
amylose and lipid layers on NRL colloidal particles as well as Van Der Waals attraction exerted
between granular and NRL particles. Table 1 showed the incorporation of Novel Green Additives:
Bio-Add in NRL gloves formulation decreased its mechanical properties. This is due to the
introduction of new amylose intermolecular interaction as well as Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add
granules which reside within NRL colloidal particles. This phenomenon contributes to inability of
rubber particles to form hydrogen bonding as well as sulphide linkages during vulcanization
process. Apart from that, the formation of Novel Green Additives: Bio-Add granules restrict the
formation of primary bonding within polyisoprene and amylose molecules and hence, lowering the
inter particles integration. Both of this factors decreased NRL gloves physical properties
respectively.