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Sensitisation of natural rubber latex by addition of a small quantity of an anionic surfactant prior to the addition of a coacervant results in quick coagulation. Compounds based on dried masterbatches prepared by the incorporation of fluffy carbon black in different forms of soap sensitised natural rubber latices such as fresh latex, preserved field latex, centrifuged latex and a blend of preserved field latex and skim latex show improved cure characteristics and vucanizate properties as compared to an equivalent conventional dry rubber-fluffy carbon black based compound. The carbon black/silica/nanoclay tri-filler - fresh natural rubber latex masterbatch based vulcanizates show improved mechanical properties as the proportion of nanoclay increased up to 5 phr. The fresh natural rubber latex based carbon black-silica masterbatch/ polybutadiene blend vulcanizates show superior mechanical and dynamic properties as compared to the equivalent compound vulcanizates prepared from the dry natural rubber-filler (conventional dry mix)/polybutadiene blends

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Dr.Sasidharan Krishnan, Rubber Technologist with over 32 years experience in Rubber Industry, Teaching and Research having B. Tech degree in Polymer Science and Rubber Technology, M. Tech in Polymer Technology and Ph.D.in Rubber Technology from Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, India

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