Latex Particle Size and Molecular Weight of Rubber

Manufacturer: We are a group of university students studying the molecular weight of Natural Rubber.
 Is there a correlationship between rubber molecular weight and latex particle size?


John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant):  While some studies by researchers indicated that the molecular weight of natural rubber is not directly related to the particle size of the rubber particles in latex which normally varies from about 0.02 μm to 3 μm, other studies showed that smaller rubber particles might contain rubber with higher average molecular weight.

This had been confirmed that by measuring the molecular weights of skim rubber and rubber from latex concentrate both obtained from the same batch of latex. Skim rubber which is made from smaller rubber particles showed lower molecular weight.

Also, there is no correlationship between different clones of the rubber trees and the average molecular weight.