Characterization of

Latex-Total Solid
Content (TSC), Dry
Rubber Content (DRC)
Experiment No 07

PSC 307 1.0 Polymer

Practical Level 1A
G.A.N.K.Gunawardhana
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Date: 27/06/2023

Experiment No: 07 (part 01)

Experiment Name: Characterization of Latex- Total Solid Content (TSC), Dry Rubber Content
(DRC)

Objectives:
• To understand how to determine the total solid content (TSC) of given NR latex.
• To understand how to determine the dry rubber content (DRC) of given NR latex.

Introduction:

Due to its unique characteristics, natural rubber is used as a raw material in a variety of
industries. The main components of natural latex are rubber particles (30 - 40 %), water (55 - 65
%), protein (2 - 3 %), sterol glycosides (0.1 - 0.5%), resin (1.5 - 3.5 %), ash (0.5 - 1.0 %),
carbohydrate (1.0 - 2.0 %). The Total Solid Content (TSC) and Dry Rubber Content (DRC), are the
most important parameters of natural rubber latex. These parameters are typically used to
describe the latex concentration.

TSC of latex is defined as the weight percentage of the whole which is the nonvolatile
content (including rubber and non-rubber solids) of the latex at a definite temperature
(around 70 ± 5°C for 16 h or 105 ± 5°C for 2 h). The determination of DRC is done by the
international standard method, as in ISO 126: (2005) at present. That method involves
coagulating the rubber with acid, separating the rubber solids from the serum, pressing the
rubber solid, and heating the coagulated sample for over 16 h at 70 °C in a conventional hot-air
oven. The dried sample should be weighed repeatedly after cooling until the mass loss between
two successive is less than 0.5 g. And then TSC can be determined via calculation of the ratio of
the weight of the remaining solids over the total initial weight.

Total solid content (TSC) = ( m1 / mₒ ) × 100

Where, m1 = mass of the dried material (g)

mₒ = mass of the test sample (g)

Dry Rubber Content (DRC) is the ratio of the weight of dry substance solidified by the acid
to the weight of latex. That means DRC is the weight percentage of rubber hydrocarbon present
in the latex. Normally, the DRC of fresh latex is between 20 and 40%. And also it should be lower
than total solid content usually. The industrial recommended range of TSC percentage of
concentrate latex is above 61 % and for DRC percentage it is above 60 %. The viscosity of the
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fresh natural latex depends on TSC and DRC due to a high TSC, and DRC may limit the yield by
slowing the latex flow. According to the strains of rubber trees, tree ages, seasons, tapping
intensity, etc., the quality of the latex could differ from rubber tree to rubber tree as well as
from region to region. Therefore, the dry rubber contents of different latex are different. If the
dry rubber content is high that means the latex has a high percentage of rubber.

Dry Rubber Content (DRC) = ( m1 / mₒ ) × 100

Where, m1 = mass of the dried material (g)

mₒ = mass of the test sample (g)

Figure 01: The graphical representation of the main components of natural rubber latex

Apparatus:

Analytical balance
Petry dishes
Beakers
Oven
Desiccator
Magnetic stirrer

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Materials:

Latex
Distilled water
acetic acid
ethanol

Methodology:

Determination of the total solid content

The dish was weighted to the nearest 0.1mg. about 2.0 g of latex was poured into the dish
and weighed to the nearest 1 mg. Then dish was gently swirled to ensure that the latex covered
the bottom. Then if desired. approximately 1 cm3 of distilled water was added and mixed with
latex. And the dish was placed in an oven and was heated at 70 °C ± 5°C for 16 hrs or at 105 °C
for 2 hrs or until the test portion had lost its whiteness. The second method was used in the
experiment. Then the dish was removed from the oven it was cooled to ambient temperature
in a desiccator. After that, the dish was removed and weighed. And then, the dish was removed
and was cooled to ambient temperature, and reweighted. The drying procedure was repeated
for periods of 30 min or 15 min until the loss in mass between two successive weighing is less
than 0.5 mg. And finally, the dried weight was recorded.

Determination of the dry rubber content

The beaker was weighed and 10.0g latex was added (Prepare 70 C steam bath). Then
about 2-3 drops of water were added and the beaker was rotated to obtain a unique thin layer.
And about 35cm of acetic acid (20g/dm³) was then added drop by drop along the wall. And
coagulated rubber sheet was depressed and the beaker was covered and heated. Then beaker
was covered and heated in a steam bath at 70 ֯C for 15-30 min. And then milky serum-add 5ml
ethanol, and the particles were collected to the main bulk. Coagulum squeezes to remove water
and make a thin sheet (2mm). Then sheet was rinsed with running water 5 min., sheet dried at
70C. The sheet was desiccated-5 min and weighted and repeated until it get constant weight.

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Results and Observations:

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Calculations:

a) Determination of total solid content (TSC) of latex

Total solid content (TSC) = ( m1 / mₒ ) × 100

Where, m1 = mass of the dried material (g)

mₒ = mass of the test sample (g)

Mass of the dried sample = Weight after drying – weight of the dish

M1 = 49.1576 g –47.9704 g
M1 = 1.1872 g

Therefore,

TSC = (m1 / mₒ ) × 100

= (1.1872 g / 2.0235 g) × 100

TSC = 58.67 %

b) Determination of Dry rubber content (DRC) of latex

Mass of the dried sample = Weight after drying – weight of the dish

m1 = 55.7943 g – 49.6843 g
m1 = 6.11 g

Therefore,

DRC = (m1 / mₒ ) × 100

Where, m1 = mass of the dried material (g)

mₒ = mass of the test sample (g)

DRC = (6.11 g / 9.9963 g) × 100 DRC

= 61.12 %
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Table 01: Data and calculated TSC values for each group

Group no Weight of the latex Weight of the dried Weight of the dish TSC %
(g) product (g) (g)
1 2.0235 49.1576 47.6843 58.67062
2 2.3450 52.7119 51.3360 58.67377
3 2.0215 24.2302 2.0518 58.29355

Table 02: Data and calculated DRC values for each group

Group no Weight of the Weight of the Weight of the DRC %

latex (g) dried product (g) dish (g)
1 9.9963 55.7943 49.6843 61.12
2 10.0836 57.4370 51.3380 60.48
3 10.4081 53.3815 49.0744 41.38

Discussion:

According to the theoretical background, the dry rubber content (DRC) should be lower
than the total solid content (TSC). But when we consider the calculated values by the results,
the DRC values of group 1 and 2 is higher than the TSC values of each group. It may be caused
by some errors during the experiment. When measuring the weights, more errors might occur.
And also, in the DRC determination practical, a thin sheet could not be get. Therefore, it is
affected to evaporate the water content of the coagulated rubber sample.

In DRC determination practical, acetic acid was added to separate the rubber solids from
the serum, which includes water, and nonrubber solids. When the neutral particles collide with
each other, the outer membrane layers break up and the rubber polymers are set free.
Generally, weak acids are used to coagulate the latex. This is because a weak acid would be used
in more quantity and would be less efficient. Similarly, a strong acid would cause a sudden drop
in pH, leading to non-homogenous or irregular coagulation of the latex particles. This would
affect the mechanical properties of rubber.

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Pre-Lab Questions:

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