Which Thickener to Use for Latex?

Manufacturer:   Nice to meet you!!! We manufacture dipped latex dolls in Siluri, West Bengal.  We use to dip in the latex for 7 to 8 times to get required thickeness. Sometimes the thickeness is not even. We have decided to use latex thickeners. Can I know which thickenere is best. It is CMC or sodium polyacrylate. Many recommend CMC. But I don't know which grade to be used.  Is it better to use CMC with 350 centipodes ( 1 gram cmc in 100 grams water)?

Can I add CMC directly in latex or I should dilute in water. Can you also recommend the maximum dosage.

     

We use Cenex. And I want to reduce dipping from 8 to 5 times. By adding CMC will it cause drying problems???

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant):  Both CMC and polyacrylate can be used. The sodium salt of CMC is generally recommended when choosing CMC.

You need to also seek the advice of your suppliers because CMC is available in a wide range of chain length and the degree of substitution. You should start with the "medium" viscosity at 2 to 5% solution.

Sodium or ammonium salts of polyacrylate have been widely used for latex. The solution viscosity is comparatively higher at low concentration. Some manufacturers prefer this to CMC because of this reason.

A 2 to 5% solution in water of the thicker should first be prepared before adding to the latex compound. Actual dosage can only be determined by lab experiments.

Any hydrophilic and water soluble materials such as latex thickeners might retard the drying and the finished products might have higher water sensitivity.