Abstract

Natural rubber latex (NRL) concentrates are important raw materials which are being used for the manufacture of products such as gloves, condoms, foams, balloons, catheters, baby soothers, dental dams, latex thread or elastic. Creaming is one of the methods for obtaining latex concentrate from field latex. This paper compares a synthetic creaming agent (sodium alginate) with an agricultural one (Tamarind seed powder), in the production of latex concentrates from field latex. From the results, the value of dry rubber contents (DRCs), which is the major parameter for evaluating extent of latex concentration, was slightly higher for concentrate obtained by Tamarind seed powder (60.10%) than that by sodium alginate (59.10%). This could be attributed to greater water-absorbing capacity of the former than the latter.  Overall, the property of latex concentrates obtained from both creaming agents compared favourably with literature.

Key words: Natural rubber, field latex, latex concentrates, creaming, dry rubber contents, Tamarind seeds, sodium alginate.