Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract Taraxacum kok-saghyz latex (TNRL) was extracted and purified from 3.5 to 5-month-old greenhouse grown plants. The extracted TNRL was of high weight average molecular weight (Mw) (∼ 2,000 kg/mol) achieved at a much younger age than the six years needed before Hevea brasiliensis produces rubber above 1,000 kg/mol, indicating potential for rubber product manufacturing and fast scale up potential. TNRL was compounded using a combination of the hypoallergenic chemical accelerators diisopropyl xanthogen polysulphide (DIXP) and zinc diisononyl dithiocarbamate (ZDNC) and recipes varied to optimize mechanical performance. While limited on latex quantity, a custom apparatus for pouring films was designed to minimize latex use and enable tensile testing. Preliminary drying, leaching, and curing times for TNRL were developed and employed for the first time, based on those used for Hevea and guayule (Parthenium argentatum). A compound containing 0.6 parts per hundred rubber (phr) ZDNC and 0.4 phr DIXP resulted in cured thin films with 30 MPa tensile strength, 2,245% elongation to break and a modulus at 500% elongation of 1.65 MPa, exceeding the mechanical requirements for surgeons (ASTM D3577) and examination (ASTM D3578) gloves. Crosslink density of TNRL films was similar to commercial Hevea natural latex films. Using the best performing film recipe and curing protocol, the world’s first TNRL glove was successfully dipped. This research indicates that TNRL may be suitable for use in low volume, high margin premium latex product markets as latex yields improve, further supporting Taraxacum kok-saghyz as an alternative rubber industrial crop.
King-Smith et al. (Thu,) studied this question.