The Zinc Oxide Stability of Latex
Abstract A review of the factors which determine the zinc oxide stability of latex has been given. The work of Lepetit and our own experiments lead to the conclusion that the zinc oxide stability of latex is determined in the first place by substances which promote the solubilization of zinc oxide (minus factors); in the second place by substances which stabilize the colloid against the activity of the complex zinc cations or reduce the activity of these ions (plus factors). It has been generally accepted that the higher the KOH number of a latex, the lower is the zinc oxide stability. Since the KOH number is based primarily on neutralization of the acidic components of the serum only, a general correlation with zinc oxide stability could not be found when latexes of different origin were examined. Intrinsic factors or factors depending on the properties of the latex itself that influence zinc oxide stability are: (1) the dry rubber content of the latex, where high values are accompanied by low zinc oxide stability values and vice versa; (2) the yellow content fraction of latex, which in increasing amounts adds to the stability of the latex; (3) the protein content of the latex which, when degraded either artificially or naturally, reduces the zinc oxide stability. The effect of materials added to latex on zinc oxide stability includes: (1) fatty acid and sulfonic acid soaps, which have only slight influence; (2) Emulphor-O, sequestering agents, and sodium phosphates and silicates, which have a stabilizing effect; (3) ammonium salts and amines, which have a marked destabilizing effect, although triethanolamine hydrochloride is not active. Quebrachitol has a slight destabilizing effect.