Radiation Synthesis and Characterization of Polymeric Wet Adhesives for Attracting and Trapping Insects

Different blends are fabricated from oleic acid (OA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and cis-1,4-polyisoprene (PI) are prepared at different ratios as wet adhesives for attracting and trapping insects. Different ratios of blends (PVP-PI)/OA are (1:2, 1:1 and 2:1 g/g), respectively. Ratio between PVP and PI is 9 to 1 (g/g). The OA, PVP and PI are dissolved to form homogenous blends in all in-situ compositions. The blends were exposed to dose of 10 to 50 kGy. Adhesion properties, water sorption, Fourier transform infrared, thermogravimetric analysis and scan electron microscopy were conducted. The results showed that adhesion of all blends were augmented by increasing the irradiation dose up to 20 kGy. The best ratio of blend was 2:1 which contained high concentration of oleic acid. Blends (PVP-PI)/OA were tested to attract and trap flies and mosquitoes. Results confirmed good efficiency of (PVP-PI)/OA as wet adhesives for attracting and trapping flies and mosquitoes.