Why Does Dilution of Natural Rubber Latex Cause Latex Detabilisation?

Manufacturer: We always encounter coagulum problem when we dilute our NR latex compounds with water. Why is this so? Please help!


John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): If your latex compounds are well stabilised with sufficient soaps/stabilisers, dilution with water generally would improve the latex stability.

I believe your latex compounds are not properly stabilised and when water is added, the concentration of stabilisers present in the water phase is reduced, hence a reduction of latex stability leading to the formation of coagulum.

What you can do is to add some stabiliser (similar to that used in the latex) to the water before dilution.