Latex-starch hybrid synthesis using CGDE method optimization: Methanol addition

Latex has mechanical properties that indubitably suits the requirement of the vehicle tire, which is highly elastic modulus. However, elastic modulus itself is a downside to tire; it affects the tire traction, which is also an important aspect of tire performance. To resolve this issue, latex needs to be crosslinked or grafted to a low elastic modulus; in this case, starch. Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis (CGDE) is a potential method to massively graft polymers with different chemical and physical properties, such as a latex-starch hybrid. Using CGDE, the problem of reacting reactants that were not intermingled, due to differences in polarity, can be forced to bind through a radical reaction mechanism. Based on the previous research, the optimal plasma position is in the cathode, which produces more hydrogen radicals than anode; reasonably, this reaction is mostly affected by hydrogen radicals. In this research, experiments will be mainly focused on the addition of methanol, a hydrogen radicals additive. I-V characterization was also done to the solution with the plasma position in the anode. The current starts to decrease at 200 V and plasma starts to stabilize at 250 V. After data is analyzed, the results of methanol addition are quite contrary. After adding methanol with a concentration of 5%v, 10%v and 15%v, the latex-starch hybrid production is decreased by 7.47%, 8.68%, and 9.01% respectively. The experimental results show that CGDE with methanol solution is not suitable for latex-starch hybrid synthesis and further optimization will need to be done.