4.

2 Natural Rubber
1. Natural rubber is a natural polymer derived from the rubber tree (Hevea Brasiliense).
2. The monomer for natural rubber is isoprene. Its IUPAC name is 2-methylbut-1, 3-diene.

3. Addition polymerisation occurs to combine thousands of isoprene units to form polyisoprene or

natural rubber.

Characteristics of Natural Rubber

1. Natural rubber exists as a soft white solid at room temperature.
2. Natural rubber is elastic.
(a) In a normal condition, the polymer chains of rubber are folded until they become tangled.
(b) When natural rubber is stretched, its polymer chains are straightened and the rubber becomes
elongated. When the force is released, the polymer chains return to their original tangled states.

3. Natural rubber is not resistant to heat.

(a) When natural rubber is heated to a temperature above 50°C, it will melt and become sticky.
Heating rubber to a temperature above 200°C will decompose it.
(b) When natural rubber is cooled, it will become hard and brittle like plastic.
4. Natural rubber is a good conductor of electrical current.
5. Natural rubber is not resistant to oxidation.
(a) The presence of double bonds in the polymer chains of rubber causes rubber to undergo
oxidation easily.
(b) Oxygen and ozone in the atmosphere with the presence of ultraviolet light can oxidise natural
rubber and decompose it gradually.
6. Natural rubber can react with acid, alkali and organic solvents.
7. Natural rubber does not dissolve in water.
(a) Rubber polymer is composed of a long hydrocarbon chain which does not dissolve in water,
(b) Natural rubber dissolves in organic solvents like benzene, petrol, carbon disulphide and
chlorohydrocarbon.

Use of Natural Rubber

1. Natural rubber has limited uses.
2. Natural rubber is used to make
(a) the mixture of latex cement and rubberised bitumen that are used to pave the surface of roads
and bridges.
(b) insulators for electrical appliances and cables
(c) materials to increase friction such as floor mats, soles of slippers and rubber door stoppers.
(d) rubber tubes, rubber covers and rubber bands
(e) gloves
3. Natural rubber is processed to become vulcanised rubber which has better properties, more
elastic as well as more resistant to heat and oxidation.
4. Vulcanised rubber is used to make vehicles tyres, gloves and rubber tubes.
5. Carbon is added to vulcanised rubber in tyres to make rubber more durable but still maintain its
elasticity.
6. Many buildings, especially buildings near the railway tracks or in the earthquake area, are now
built on rubber blocks or rubber balls that can help absorb vibrations.

Coagulation of Latex
1. The milky fluid obtained from tapped rubber tree is called latex.
2. It consists of an aqueous suspension of colloidal rubber particles.
3. Each rubber particle consists of rubber polymers that are surrounded by a layer of protein
membrane
4. Negative charges are found on the surface of the membrane, causing the rubber particle to be
negatively-charged. Negatively-charged rubber particles repel each other, preventing the fusion of
rubber particles and hence prevent latex coagulation.
Coagulation Process of Latex
1. Acid such as methanoic acid (formic acid) is added to coagulate latex faster.
2. Hydrogen ions from the acid neutralise the negative charges on the surface of the membrane.
Natural rubber particles are formed.
3. When these neutralised particles collide, the protein membrane ruptures. The rubber polymers in
the particle will be released.

4. Latex starts to coagulate when the rubber polymers coalesce.

5. Latex can still coagulate if acids are not added. Usually, latex will coagulate if left overnight.
6. Bacteria in the air will slowly attack the protein on the membrane to produce lactic acid. The
ionisation of lactic acid produces hydrogen ions. Hydrogen ions neutralise the negative charges to
produce neutralised rubber particles, enabling coagulation to occur.

Latex Coagulation Prevention

1. An alkali such as ammonia solution is added to latex to prevent coagulation.
2. Hydroxide ions from the alkali neutralise hydrogen ions form lactic acids produced by the action of
bacteria on the protein.
3. Therefore, no hydrogen ions are present to neutralise the negative charges on the rubber
particles, hence rubber particles remain negatively-charged and cannot combine and coagulate.