Advancement of an Eco-Friendly and Innovative Sustainable Rubber Wrap Film Exhibiting Superior Sealing Properties  

Abstract

The rubber wrap film is a promising new product that could have a positive impact on the en-vironment. The film is environmentally friendly, durable, and effective in sealing containers and keeping food fresh or crispy. The raw materials used to make the product were studied, namely fresh and concentrated natural rubber latex. No nitrosamines were found in either fresh or concentrated latex, which is important as nitrosamines are known to be carcinogenic. The absence of nitrosamines in the raw materials suggests that the universal rubber wrap film is safe for use. In this study, the rubber formulation and properties of rubber used to make rubber wrap film were studied. The content of additives affecting rubber properties was varied to find the optimum rubber formulation for making rubber wrap film. The rubber formulation with the least amount of chemicals that met the following criteria was selected: tensile strength at least 15 MPa, elongation at break at least 600%, and nitrosamine content below 6 ppm. It was found experimentally that the optimum rubber formulation for making a translucent rubber film had 0.7 phr zinc oxide and 1.0 phr sulfur. In actual use tests it was found that the translucent rubber wrap sealed containers more tightly than a PE plastic film or aluminum foil, because of its elasticity. This allows the rubber film to conform to the shape of the container more closely, creating a tighter seal. The results of this study provide valuable information for developing a universal rubber wrap film that is safe with low nitrosamines.