COAGULATION

OF LATEX
 WHAT IS
LATEX?
The colloidal solution containing
rubber molecules, water and
non-rubber molecules.
•The negatively charged protein membrane surrounding
the rubber molecules causes the rubber molecules to
repel each other. This condition causes natural rubber to
remain in a liquid form.

•Latex can coagulate naturally if left for a few hours due to

bacterial activity.

•Bacterial activity produces acids which contains hydrogen

ions which can neutralise the negative charges on the
protein membrane.

•As a result the rubber molecules can come closer and

collide with each other.
These collisions will break apart
the protein membrane ,releasing
the rubber polymers which will
coalesce to form lumps of
rubber.The process that forms the
lumps of rubber is called
coagulation.

Latex can be prevented from

coagulating by adding ammonia