Nitrile latex foam was prepared by baking process using AC. The
additions of fungal starch, calcium carbonate and aspen fiber into
latex foam gave different enforcement behaviors. All these particles
increased the foam density and decreased elongation following
their increased addition to nitrile latex. Both starch and aspen fiber
provided superior tensile strength upon their increased addition
whereas calcium carbonate had inferior impact. Moreover, aspen
fiber had a significant impact on the foam compressive strength.
The foam compressive strength was improved by increasing the
fiber content while both starch and calcium carbonate had critical
optimized amounts. These results were in accordance with the
observation of SEM, which demonstrated that the presence of aspen
fiber helped the batter be more uniform and the filler particles
preferred to disperse around the fibers.
In addition, the results of FTIR and thermal behaviors of latex
foam showed that this baked foam was simple foam composite.
With the exception of latex filming, there was no chemical function
during baking. However, the final foam was flexible and had good
cryogenic quality due to its low glass transition temperature.