Applications of Raman spectroscopy to the analysis of natural rubber

The technique of Raman spectroscopy has been available for over 60 years but the analysis of elastomers has been dogged by problems of fluorescence. The introduction of Fourier transform collection techniques and spectral accumulation, coupled with the advantages of using a near-IR laser as an excitation source, have removed many of the barriers to the application of this technique within a routine laboratory environment. This paper describes some of the areas related to the analysis of natural rubber which have been investigated using this technique. Of particular interest is the observation of main chain modifications during vulcanization and the ability to observe the conversion of insoluble to soluble sulphur under conditions appropriate to compounding and vulcanization. The influence of crystallization, both temperature and strain induced, on the FT-Raman spectrum of natural rubber is also demonstrated.