Curing Latex-Based Products with Boiling Water

Manufacturer: Hi Mr. John Woon. We have learnt a lot from your postings over the years. I'm sure you could help us again here. My question: Besides steam and oven with different heating systems, what else could we use for the curing of our latex based products.

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): Have you tried boiling water? If not, I suggest you conduct some experiments using boiling water to cure your products with different types and levels of zinc dialkyldithiocarbamates as the accelerators. I have used this method myself and there are a number of advantages compared to ovens as shown below:

1) The plateau of the curing curve is longer and therefor there are lesser chances for "reversion".

2) There is better interaction between the curatives and the rubber because of better heat transfer.

3) The absence of air (and hence oxygen), deterioration of the rubber is lesser.

4) The removal of hydrophilic residual materials, residual accelerators and by-products of vulcanisation is more efficient.

5) The final products are therefore cleaner.