Abstract
In the course of an investigation on the oxidation products of dry rubber and of latex, the reaction of latex with hydrogen peroxide was studied. One result of this work was that a latex possessing distinctive adhesive or sticky qualities was prepared, and it is believed that the so modified latex may prove to be of commercial interest. It is proposed, for the sake of brevity, to refer to this product as “sticky” latex. Attention was first drawn to the apparent advantage of “sticky” latex as a result of difficulties which arose in connection with the problem of making a good joint between leather and a certain type of rubbered fabric. The latter was coated with rubber cement, according to the well-known practice, and the leather treated with latex. Using “ordinary” 36 per cent latex, 60 per cent concentrated (by centrifugation) latex, ditto diluted to 36 per cent, 70 per cent concentrated (by evaporation) latex, and ditto diluted to 36 per cent, the results were not as satisfactory as was desired. “Sticky” latex was then tried and found to give distinctly better results. The process of handling was facilitated and a joint was obtained which could not be broken without tearing the fabric, and which, moreover, resisted the action of fresh and sea-water acting over a period of several days. When using a self-curing rubber cement on the fabric, it was found that whereas the joints made with the standard varieties of latex mentioned tended to open up (unless constant pressure was applied prior to the completion of the vulcanization stage), this undesirable effect did not take place when “sticky” latex was employed. The readiness with which surfaces treated with “sticky” latex adhere to one another, and the fact that prolonged pressure is not necessary to obtain good results, should be of considerable practical importance in certain classes of work. Another advantage is that if a piece of material has been applied in a wrong position, making an adjustment necessary, the broken joint may readily be remade when “sticky” latex has been used. The other fabrics tried do not possess this property to the same degree, and if a joint made with these is pulled apart, the surfaces do not readily adhere again.