Webbing Problem of Glove Dipping Process

Manufacturer: I kindly request you to find some time to clarify my doubt regarding the formation of webbing during glove dipping process. We are consuming the centrifuged latex immediately on receipt from suppliers. Suppliers are normally adding potassium laurate/ammonium laurate to boost MST. The MST is around 900 - 1000 sec. while consuming.

Will the excess soap be the culprit for the formation of webbing during dipping. How to overcome it?

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): Yes, too much soaps/stabilisers could cause the formation of webbing. Sometimes, certain batches of the latex concentrate could also give similar problem although there is no excessive soaps.

One effective way to overcome this problem is by adding an anti-webbing agent (i.e. anti-foam agent) into the latex.

At the same time, try reducing the latex TSC and slow down the former withdrawal speed from the latex tank. These are to reduce the negative effects of the webbing rather than to reduce the webbing.

Sometimes, despite the presence of webbing, the quality of the final gloves remains unaffected. In such cases, please don't take any actions, for example, adding anti-webbing agent to the latex.