GRAFTING OF MALEIC ANHYDRIDE ONTO CYCLIZED NATURAL RUBBER IN THE MELT PHASE: THE EFFECT OF TRIMETHYLOL PROPANE TRIACRYLATE

The grafting product of maleic anhydride onto cyclized natural rubber have been produced in the presence of trimethylol propane triacrylate comonomer which is processed in an internal mixer 150oC 80 rpm. In this research, the ratio of Tris / maleic anhydride used is 1: 2; 1: 1 and 2: 1. All grafted product was purified to determine the degree of grafting for each graft product by the titration method. The degree of grafting increases with increasing trimethylol propane triacrylate mole ratio. The highest degree of grafting is obtained in moles ratio of 2: 1 which is to 5.88%.