Abstract:

Sustainability of natural rubber (NR) in the modern world needs to be addressed as it is encountering various threats including threats from global warming, shortage of labour, price instability, inadequacy of certain of its properties, constantly new development of synthetic rubbers and ever increasing market demands for premium quality rubber products. Therefore, sustainability of NR cannot be readily assumed. Research into NR with the objectives to sustain its usages has been carried out by Mahidol-MTEC Rubber Group. Summary of the research work will be presented.

Keywords: natural rubber, sustainability, processing properties, modified natural rubber, high damping materials, natural rubber blends, green production technology

___________________________________

Biography:

Education
           B.Sc (Chemistry)  University of Liverpool, UK
           Ph.D (Polymer Science)  University of Bradford, UK

Present Positions
1.Deputy Executive Director
          National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC)
          National Science and Technology Development Agency
2.Director
          Rubber Programme
          National Science and Technology Development Agency
3.Head
          Rubber Technology Research Centre
          Mahidol University

Research Interests
1.Structures and Properties of Rubbers
2.Rubber Surfaces and Interfaces
3.Improvement of Properties of Natural Rubber
4.Green Production Technology of Natural Rubber

Achievements
1.30 years experience in natural rubber research resulting in 30 publications and 4 patents
2.Establish Graduate School in Polymer Science and Technology at Mahidol University
3.Establish Rubber Technology Research Centre at Mahidol University
4.National research award  for green technology for recovering of natural rubber waste in concentrated latex production industry
5.President of the Polymer Society of Thailand  (2007 - 2012)