Surface Tension and Surface Energy in Latex Dipping Process

Manufacturer: We are very confused by the terms surface tension and surface energy when dealing with wetting properties in our latex glove dipping process. Hope you could give us some simple explanation.

John Woon (Senior Latex Consultant): This is quite a complex subject, but I'd attempt to make it as simple as possible for you.

"Surface tension" and "surface energy" are the same, but usually one uses "surface tension” when referring to liquids (e.g., coagulants and latex) and “surface energy” for solids (e.g., formers). Also, “surface energy” is sometimes referred to as “surface free energy”.

In the manufacturing of latex gloves, this simply means that the coagulant must have a low enough surface tension of around 30 to 32 Dynes/cm, while the formers must have a clean and uncontaminated surface to have a high surface energy. Generally, a ceramic or glass former is superior to a plastic former.

The surface tension of the water is too high at 72 Dynes/cm, which makes it a very poor wetting liquid, hence the need to add a surfactant (i.e., wetting agent) to the water when preparing the coagulant mix.

Similar consideration should also apply to the latex compounds.