Investigation of the Aging Processes of Rubber. II. The Gold Reaction of Products of the Initial State of Oxidation
Abstract 1. Aqueous extracts of pale crepe, which were exposed to the radiation of a quartz lamp or which were masticated for a short time on cold mills, reduce slightly alkaline gold chloride solution with the formation of colloidal gold. 2. The maximum intensity of the gold reaction under the experimental conditions described lay within the limits of 20–30 minutes' exposure to radiation. 3. The maximum intensity for smoked sheets lies within the same range; however even before irradiation this rubber yields an extract which reduces gold chloride. 4. The electric conductivity of aqueous extracts increases continuously, and under the experimental conditions described began after 30 minutes of irradiation of the rubber. 5. The character of the variations in the intensity of the gold reaction and the electric conductivity of the extracts must be explained on the basis of corresponding concepts of the chemistry of changes in rubber during aging.