Coagulant Dipping Time and Temperature Optimisation for Latex Glove Uneven Coating Investigation

Abstract

Powdered glove is produced by natural latex with the aid of coagulant. The composition of the coagulant contains wetting agent, calcium nitrate as coagulant and anti-tack agent. Generally wetting agent causes foam and results in uneven wall thickness in glove production. Hence, the objective of this research was to select a suitable wetting agent sample that could be used by the production, as well as optimising the parameter such as temperature of coagulant, weight percentage of wetting agent and coagulant dipping time to reduce the rejection of uneven thickness. This paper presented the preliminary testing including foam height test, cloud point test, wetting agent characterisation and the samples mechanical analysis. Two setting agents (sample T and sample E) were chosen due to its availability in the production line. Throughout the wetting agent characterisation, sample T was preferred compared to sample E due to similar bonding of the wetting agent. The surface tension of coagulant and tensile strength of glove samples meet the glove industry standard at the variation of wetting agent amount. The optimise parameter were at 0.0175 wt% of wetting agent and 5 seconds dipping time at 63 °C. The average thickness of the gloves at this parameter was at 0.09 ± 0.004 mm which is at the acceptable level comparing to 0.1mm thickness of ASTM standard.