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Reexamination of the equilibrium melting temperature of natural rubber crystals

Polymer Journal volume 52, pages 255–259 (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

The equilibrium melting temperature (\(T_{\mathrm{m}}^0\)) of natural rubber crystals was reexamined by the Hoffman–Weeks plot and the Gibbs–Thomson plot using the lamellar thickness obtained from the same sample as the one used for the measurement of melting temperature. The sample was prepared from deproteinized latex. As a result, the \(T_{\mathrm{m}}^0\) of NR was estimated to be 61 °C. At the same time, the fold-surface free energy was estimated to be 0.046 Jm−2. These values should be more reliable than the previously assumed values.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (16K05913) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS).

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  1. Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto-fu, 611-0011, Japan

    Masatoshi Tosaka & Daiki Kumagawa

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  1. Masatoshi Tosaka
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Correspondence to Masatoshi Tosaka.

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Tosaka, M., Kumagawa, D. Reexamination of the equilibrium melting temperature of natural rubber crystals. Polym J 52, 255–259 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41428-019-0253-9

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