Compounding latices to meet performance and cost requirements
David Hill, SSL International plc, UK
This paper will address the factors to be taken into account when formulating rubber latices for dipping. Many products made from latices must comply with stringent regulations dictating performance and residual chemical content, and satisfying these requirements whilst meeting cost and environmental constraints provide the compounder with a multi-faceted challenge. This paper will describe the general principles, both practical and scientific, which underlie the compounding of natural and synthetic latices, including the selection and preparation of stabilizers, accelerators and antioxidants. Other aspects of formulation, such as blending different latices, incorporating fillers, pigments and plasticizers will be explored. The influence the formulation can have on dipping, film-forming, drying and other manufacturing operations will be discussed, and ways in which the latex compound can be made more environmentally friendly through reduction in materials, energy usage and effluent will be presented.