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dramatically decreased presumably because of the greater crosslinking between the maleic
acid and the PVA or starch molecules.
Figure18. Swelling ratio (%) of the ENR/PVA blend with different starch and maleic acid contents (30
and 70% w/w) in water.
Figure 19. Model of a polymer composite composed of two main components including the polymer
matrix and fiber.
Polymer Composite
The properties of NR can be modified by the addition of fiber when it is called a
―composite‖. A polymer composite is a heterogenous material composed of two main
components e.g., the matrix and a fiber (Figure 19).
The NR was mixed with sugar cane leaves (Riyajan et al., 2012), tea waste (Riyajan and
Sukhlaaied, 2012) and baggasse fibers (Riyajan and Intharit, 2011). For example, the
resulting composite beads could be used to remove Pb
2+
from wastewater by absorption. This
novel absorbent was prepared by blending an SA solution with a NR latex matrix and coconut
waste (Cofiber). After being crosslinked by calcium chloride, the beads were highly stable,
flexible, spherical shaped and easy to use in an environmental issue. The starch/natural rubber
composite was prepared by blending the modified starch, which was modified by
esterification with NR latex (Wang et al. 2009). The crystal structure of starch in the
composite disappeared after the modification by esterification, and the starch particles with an
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