How to Select Plasticizer?

Manufacturer: We manufacture latex products based on both natural rubber latex and synthetic rubber latices. There's now a need to use plasticizer to soften our products to satisfy a new requirement from our customers. Please advise us on how to select a good plasticizer for both natural rubber and synthetic rubbers.

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): You have a wide range of mineral oils (aromatic, naphthenic and paraffinic) and non-volatile esters to choose from.

Mineral oils are generally used for non-polar polymers such as natural rubber ans SBR while the ester type is used for polar polymers such as PVC, polychloroprene and nitrile rubber.

A detailed report on this subject with recommendation is being sent to you separately in my next email to you. Many thanks for your donation.
                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                           

Fragrance for Latex Products?

Manufacturer: We have obtained a fragrance which we intend to use to mask the odour of our latex dipped products. How best should use this?

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant):You can do either of the following:

1) Add the fragrant in emulsified form into the latex compound. Or

2) Tumble your products along with some rags or towels pre-soaked with the fragrance.

Method 1 would give a more lasting effect than method 2 although the fragrance in Method 1 can sometimes destabilise the latex and cause formation of oil spots.

Better leaching efficiency can help in reducing the latex odour.

                                                                                                                                           

MBT Causing Havoc in Latex Stability

Manufacturer: We are latex dipped products manufacturers. Our technical adviser has advised that we include MBT in our curatives to improve the heat ageing resistance. We adhered to his advice but encountered a lot of latex stability problems which he tried to solve by adding stabilisers but to no avail. What shall we do?

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): Very simple! Just switch to ZMBT. MBT is acidic! Your technical adviser should have known better!