The Kinetics of the Coagulation of Latex of Hevea Brasiliensis and the Separation of the Hydratant Acid

Abstract

Abstract In the present work, an attempt is made to study the process of coagulation of Hevea brasiliensis latex, so familiar to every rubber expert, from a general colloid-chemical point of view, and to ascertain the physical conditions under which the kenetic phenomena take place. Hevea Brasiliensis Latex as a Physical System In “The Electrometric Determination of the Hydrogen Ion Concentration in the Latex of Hevea brasiliensis and Its Applicability to Technical Problems” the true character of Hevea brasiliensis latex as a physical system and the phenomena which take place during coagulation of this system are discussed in the light of investigations and observations of various rubber experts. Latex is a dispersion composed of polydispersed rubber hydrocarbon, serum components, and water. The rubber component consists of microscopically visible solid or semi-solid particles, in Brownian movement, and judged by the degree of affinity of rubber for water these particles are unquestionably lyophobic. Since the serum components are in a colloidal state, they are present as sols or emulsions, and they impart to the latex its lyophilic properties. It is possible, however, to choose the conditions of coagulation so that, for a given concentration of dispersed substances and at a given temperature, the dispersion will be predominantly lyophobic or lyophilic. This dual standard leads to the conclusion that Hevea brasiliensis latex is a pseudo-lyophilic dispersion. In saying this, it should be noted that, although the dispersion has several lyophilic properties, it is nevertheless essentially a lyophobic system, the properties of which become manifest under the right conditions.