AbstractStarch xanthate with degrees of substitution (D.S.) ranging from 0.12 to 0.56 reacted with vinyl monomers (acrolein, acrylamide, acrylic acid, acrylonitrile, methyl acrylate, or styrene) and hydrogen peroxide to form aqueous gels of starch–polyvinyl monomer graft copolymer. The same reactions conducted in a rubber latex medium resulted in a self‐acidifying, self‐heating, and self‐foaming coagulation to give a foam rubber. Such products were formed from several synthetic latices (NBR, SBR, polyisoprene, and polychloroprene types) and natural rubber latex; noted for each were the effects of the D.S., of monomer and peroxide concentrations, and of starch:elastomer ratios. The dried foams were evaluated by standard strength tests. Foam rubber of acceptable extensibility and enhanced tensile strength (up to 110 psi) was obtained with 0.12–0.15 D.S. xanthate and with proper balance of vinyl monomer, peroxide, and starch:elastomer ratio. Resilience was fair to good, but compression set was rather poor compared to most foam rubbers of ge
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