AKRON—Papers on living/controlled radical polymerization, and aluminum hydroxide-treated natural rubber latex will be among the presentations scheduled for the July 26-27 International Latex Conference.
Michael F. Cunningham of Queen's University will highlight the major features and most recent advances of L/CRP in latexes in his presentation, “Preparation of Synthetic Latexes Using Controlled/Living Radical Polymerization.”
Cunningham said L/CRP provides a means to prepare polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions, specialized architectures and functionalized polymers. “The concept is simple and yet elegant,” he said. “A mediating species such as a nitroxide or transition metal complex is added to the polymerization mixture, where it acts to reversibly terminate propagating polymeric radicals to yield “dormant” chains. These dormant chains undergo repeated growth and reversible termination cycles during the process, producing a “living” polymer with narrow molecular weight distribution that can be subsequently reacted if desired.”
Travis W. Honeycutt of Vystar Inc.'s presentation is titled “Development of Natural Rubber Latex Leads to Strong Niche Market Advances.” He said that while certain mainstream producers have already gravitated to the aluminum hydroxide-treated natural latex, recently niche product producers have shown a keen interest in specific pre-compounded, further enhanced, specialty versions of the latex.
His paper will highlight the effects that such advances can have on future economic growth, as well as the strong positive impact on the environment as “we learn to use less toxic chemicals, and preservation of natural resources currently used to 'clean' NRL.”
For more information on the program visit www.rubbernews.com/conferences/2011/latex, and click on the technical program link.
The latex conference is organized jointly by Rubber & Plastics News and Akron Dispersions.