The Natural Stabilizers of Latex

Abstract The paucity of information regarding the properties of natural rubber and allied latices, other than Hevea Braziliensis , is surprising. While great attention has been paid to fresh and preserved Hevea latex, little or nothing appears to have been done recently with other rubber or rubber-like ( e. g. , gutta, balata, etc.) latices. Indeed, many authors of papers on rubber latex preface their articles with a statement that only Hevea latex will be considered, other latices being of no commercial interest. It is likely, however, that a careful scientific examination of latices of botanical origin other than Hevea would yield much information of practical importance to the application of Hevea latex, although these latices may not be obtainable at present in commercial quantities. For instance, the fact that certain of these latices require no preservative indicates that they contain a natural stabilizer greatly superior to any substance occurring naturally in Hevea latex, or used in its industrial applications. The identification and application to Hevea of such natural stabilizers represents, therefore, an important technical research. Though many references to latices other than Hevea are to be found in the literature, these are mostly somewhat old, and more often than not predate the advent of the rubber plantation industry, while more recently the attention so strongly focused on Hevea latex has caused the latices of other botanical origin to be entirely neglected. The data given below for Abiarana gutta-percha latex may, therefore, be of some interest.