Revealing the Effect of Non-rubber Components of Natural Rubber on Its Radiation Resistance Performance

Natural rubber (NR) is a crucial elastic material used for damping and sealing applications in the nuclear industry, but its mechanical stability under radiation remains inadequate. Current efforts to improve radiation resistance rely on the addition of antiradiation agents, however, the effects of the components and microstructures of NR itself on radiation resistance remain unclear. In this study, we compared the composition and structure differences of four typical commercially used NR materials and investigated their effects on gamma radiation resistance. Furthermore, we examined the impact of non-rubber components (NRC) in NR on radiation resistance using deproteinized and dephosphorylated NR model samples. Our results revealed that NRC, such as proteins and phospholipids can enhance the strength of natural rubber before radiation exposure. However, after the removal of NRC, the samples exhibited improved mechanical stability under irradiation. Additionally, the ash content in NR could also influence the radiation resistance, as metal ions may react with the active centers produced by radiation, thereby enhancing the radiation resistance of the rubber. This work identifies the effect of non-rubber components in NR on radiation resistance and may serve as a reference for screening and developing radiation-resistant NR materials.