A molded film having a thickness of 20 to 300 μm and obtained using a latex composition including a conjugated diene polymer latex, a sulfur-based vulcanizing agent, a vulcanization accelerator, and an antioxidant, wherein the antioxidant is at least one selected from phenolic antioxidants and quinoline antioxidants, and has a molecular weight of 300 to 600.

Briefly described, and according to one embodiment, aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to natural rubber and functional silica compositions for tire manufacturing and methods for forming the same. In at least one embodiment, the disclosed composition is a renewable elastomeric polymeric composition for rubber compounding applications, such as low rolling resistance tire tread and winter tire tread applications. The disclosed composition may also reduce fuel consumption and, thus, carbon dioxide emissions in gas-powered vehicles, and increase driving range in electric vehicles, because the disclosed composition is more energy efficient than current tire material compositions. In various embodiments, the disclosed composition may be formed by blending water-soluble silsesquioxane oligomers into a natural rubber latex system, followed by in-situ formation of a continuous, molecular silica network within the resulting polymer.

Briefly described, and according to one embodiment, aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to natural rubber and functional silica compositions for tire manufacturing and methods for forming the same. In at least one embodiment, the disclosed composition is a renewable elastomeric polymeric composition for rubber compounding applications, such as low rolling resistance tire tread and winter tire tread applications. The disclosed composition may also reduce fuel consumption and, thus, carbon dioxide emissions in gas-powered vehicles, and increase driving range in electric vehicles, because the disclosed composition is more energy efficient than current tire material compositions. In various embodiments, the disclosed composition may be formed by blending water-soluble silsesquioxane oligomers into a natural rubber latex system, followed by in-situ formation of a continuous, molecular silica network within the resulting polymer.

Briefly described, and according to one embodiment, aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to natural rubber and functional silica compositions for tire manufacturing and methods for forming the same. In at least one embodiment, the disclosed composition is a renewable elastomeric polymeric composition for rubber compounding applications, such as low rolling resistance tire tread and winter tire tread applications. The disclosed composition may also reduce fuel consumption and, thus, carbon dioxide emissions in gas-powered vehicles, and increase driving range in electric vehicles, because the disclosed composition is more energy efficient than current tire material compositions. In various embodiments, the disclosed composition may be formed by blending water-soluble silsesquioxane oligomers into a natural rubber latex system, followed by in-situ formation of a continuous, molecular silica network within the resulting polymer.

Embodiments of the present technology may include a method of reducing leaching from a fiber-containing composite. The method may include forming an aqueous dispersion of fibers. The method may further include applying a binder composition to the aqueous dispersion of fibers to form a binder-fiber mixture. The binder composition may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a catalyst that catalyzes the reaction between the carbohydrate and the nitrogen-containing compound. The catalyst may be water soluble before curing but water insoluble after curing. In addition, the method may include curing the binder-fiber mixture to form the fiber-containing composite.

Embodiments of the present technology may include a method of reducing leaching from a fiber-containing composite. The method may include forming an aqueous dispersion of fibers. The method may further include applying a binder composition to the aqueous dispersion of fibers to form a binder-fiber mixture. The binder composition may include a carbohydrate, a nitrogen-containing compound, and a catalyst that catalyzes the reaction between the carbohydrate and the nitrogen-containing compound. The catalyst may be water soluble before curing but water insoluble after curing. In addition, the method may include curing the binder-fiber mixture to form the fiber-containing composite.

Described are silicone hydrogels that are more biocompatible than current ocular materials. The silicone hydrogels are formed from a reactive monomer mixture comprising: a mixture of hydroxyl substituted silicone containing components, at least one polyamide; and at least one hydrophilic monomer. The silicone hydrogels also display a desirable balance of properties, including clarity, oxygen permeability, wettability and desirable protein uptake.

Described are silicone hydrogels that are more biocompatible than current ocular materials. The silicone hydrogels are formed from a reactive monomer mixture comprising: a mixture of hydroxyl substituted silicone containing components, at least one polyamide; and at least one hydrophilic monomer. The silicone hydrogels also display a desirable balance of properties, including clarity, oxygen permeability, wettability and desirable protein uptake.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing reduced graphene oxide, incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex to provide a polyisoprene latex graphene composite and elastomeric articles prepared using the polyisoprene latex-graphene composite. In particular, the reduction of graphene oxide is accomplished without the use of strong reducing agents and organic solvents and incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex is accomplished using room temperature latex mixing method or hot maturation. The resultant composite exhibits good colloid stability and polyisoprene latex films produced from the composite exhibit good mechanical properties with improved ageing resistance.

The present invention relates to a method of preparing reduced graphene oxide, incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex to provide a polyisoprene latex graphene composite and elastomeric articles prepared using the polyisoprene latex-graphene composite. In particular, the reduction of graphene oxide is accomplished without the use of strong reducing agents and organic solvents and incorporation of the reduced graphene oxide into polyisoprene latex is accomplished using room temperature latex mixing method or hot maturation. The resultant composite exhibits good colloid stability and polyisoprene latex films produced from the composite exhibit good mechanical properties with improved ageing resistance.