Effect of the Phenological Stage in the Natural Rubber Latex Properties

Abstract

Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) from Hevea brasiliensis is a material studied because of their industrial applications. For its natural origin, it is possible to find rubber particles, proteins, phospholipids and ashes. These non-rubber content are responsible for the latex colloidal stability. H. brasiliensis tree goes through four stages during the year, changing its nutritional requirements and as a result the rubber yield and stability. Most studies have correlated latex characteristics and yield with tree age and clonal origin but none of them with phenological stages. The impact of the phenological stage on the material properties has not been completely identified yet. In this work, the influence of the clonal origin and the phenological stage with the material properties is studied. Thermal behavior, microstructural analysis, morphological study, colloidal stability and rheology are analyzed for FX3864, IAN710 and AIN873 clones during 1 year. NRL is an amorphous material but during the high-yield period, a melting point is observed. Flowering is the stage when phospholipids, protein and isoelectric point are higher. Phenological stages do not affect the rubber, but the main changes are in the non-rubber content. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.