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This study investigated a novel crosslinking agent for epoxidized natural rubber (ENR). The result showed that it was possible to thermally crosslink ENR with maleic anhydride (MA). No additional catalyst was needed. FT-IR spectra revealed that after heating the ENR mixed with MA, there was the formation of the ester linkages. The crosslinking of ENR via these newly formed linkages was confirmed by the formation of gel once the heated rubber sample was immersed in toluene. The rheographs indicated that the crosslinking can take place at 80 °C and the curing rate and degree of crosslinking were dependent of the MA content. The cured ENR with MA showed higher decomposition temperature and better tensile strength than the uncured one.
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Srirachya et al. (2017) studied this question.