Water-Soluble Accelerator for Latex Dipping

Manufacturer: I have been debating with my fellow chemists over the use of water-soluble accelerator, sodium dithiocarbamate. I stressed that, since it is soluble it should be more active compared to the insoluble zinc dithiocarbamate. Please give your comment on the use of soluble accelerators.

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): I am sorry you are wrong! In fact, soluble dithiocarbamate is less active. However, since it is soluble, one can add it directly into the latex without the concern about the preparation of a dispersion of the accelerator.

Any residual accelerator in the dipped products could also be easily removed by leaching to minimize possible Type IV hypersensitivity reaction. But for the same reasoning, it might lead to poor vulcanisation if leaching is done before the curing oven although it has been successfully used for hot-water vulcanisation, if the right amount is used.